The United Arab Emirates has dispatched an envoy to Damascus for the primary time for the reason that Syrian battle erupted in 2011, Syria’s state media reported on Tuesday, in a brand new sign of Syria’s warming ties with the Arab area.

Incoming Emirati envoy Hassan al-Shehi introduced his credentials to Syria’s overseas affair minister Faysal al-Meqdad on the overseas ministry on Tuesday.

Syria has been slowly re-establishing diplomatic ties with the Arab area lately, after many recalled their envoys and closed embassies in response to President Bashar al-Assad’s crackdown on protests towards him in 2011.

Saudi Arabia, Qatar and, to a lesser extent, the UAE then backed rebels towards Assad – however Abu Dhabi has rebuilt ties with Damascus lately.

Assad visited the UAE in 2022 – his first journey to an Arab state for the reason that civil conflict erupted – and once more in 2023 after a devastating earthquake killed hundreds in Syria.

The tragedy cleared the best way for a thaw in Arab ties with Assad and months later the Arab League reversed its greater than decade-long suspension of Syria’s membership.

Regional powerhouse Saudi Arabia, which final 12 months reached an settlement with rival Iran to revive bilateral ties, has opened the door for potential dialogue with Damascus particularly on humanitarian points.

Syrian every day Al-Watan reported that Riyadh could be sending an envoy to Damascus quickly.

Hundreds of hundreds of individuals have died within the Syria battle, which spiralled out of an rebellion towards Assad, drew in quite a few overseas powers and splintered the nation.