The new Syrian Foreign Minister Assad Hassan al-Shibani arrived today in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as part of his regional tour that began with Saudi Arabia and passed through Qatar, the official Syrian news agency SANA reported, quoted by Agence France-Presse and BTA.
The minister is accompanied by Syria's Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Kasra and the head of the intelligence services Anas Khattab.
On the social network „Ex“ Al-Shibani said his aim was to create "constructive bilateral relations that serve the interests of both countries" during his stay in the UAE.
He will also visit Jordan as part of his tour, following an official visit to Saudi Arabia.
Syria's new leaders are seeking help from Gulf countries to rebuild Syria, which has been suffering from more than 13 years of war.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was overthrown on December 8 by a coalition of rebel factions led by the radical Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
The UAE supported the return of the Assad regime to the Arab League in 2023, after the country was expelled due to the war that began in 2011 with the brutal suppression of pro-democracy protests.
True to its policy of zero tolerance for political Islam, the UAE is watching the new Syrian leadership with suspicion and fears excessive influence from Turkey, a key ally of the Syrian authorities, according to analysts.