Syria's new leader, Ahmad el-Chareh, and the President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, held a phone call on Friday to discuss ways to enhance bilateral relations.
Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan © UPN
Syria's new leader, Ahmad el-Chareh, and the President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, held a phone call on Friday to discuss ways to enhance bilateral relations.
This dialogue comes amid regional diplomatic shifts following the fall of Bashar al-Assad, whom Abu Dhabi had previously supported in normalization efforts.
According to Syria's official news agency Sana, both leaders emphasized the importance of continuous coordination and intensified efforts to support the Syrian people and protect the country’s territorial integrity. They reaffirmed their shared commitment to fostering regional stability and development.
Facing immense challenges in rebuilding after more than thirteen years of war, the new Syrian authorities are working to reassure Arab and Western nations.
They are particularly seeking support from Gulf countries, including the UAE, to revive the national economy and rebuild devastated infrastructure.
Abu Dhabi's Concerns About Syria's New Leadership
Despite this outreach, the UAE remains cautious toward Syria's new leadership under Ahmad el-Chareh, who emerged from a coalition led by the radical Islamist group Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). This coalition overthrew Bashar al-Assad last month.
Abu Dhabi, known for its zero-tolerance policy on political Islam, is wary of Turkey's growing influence, given its role as a major ally of Syria's new authorities.
The UAE was among the first Arab nations to restore diplomatic relations with Bashar al-Assad's Syria, facilitating his reintegration into the Arab League in 2023.
This engagement could continue with Syria's new leadership, contingent upon progress in achieving stability and effective governance.
Human Rights Watch has accused an Abu Dhabi-based security company of recruiting Colombian private military contractors and deploying them to fight alongside Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) between 2024 and 2025, adding to what the rights group describes as a growing body of evidence of Emirati military support for the paramilitary group.
The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) is making significant strides across three infrastructure projects in Africa, with road rehabilitation programmes in Togo, Madagascar and Nigeria progressing at pace.
In a post published Monday on Truth Social, President Donald Trump issued what amounts to a sweeping diplomatic ultimatum to the Arab and Muslim world: normalise with Israel through the Abraham Accords, or forfeit any role in the Iran agreement he is working to finalise.
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