Foreign ministers from the UAE and Syria's new government discussed strengthening relations at a meeting on Monday, marking the first official Syrian visit to the Gulf country since the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad.
The United Arab Emirates' top diplomat, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Syria's new Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani "discussed ways to enhance the strong fraternal relations between the two countries," the UAE’s official WAM news agency reported.
The UAE had championed restoring ties with Assad in the years before his downfall, a stance that paved the way for his reintegration into the Arab League in 2023.
Sheikh Abdullah also "reiterated the UAE's firm position in supporting Syria's independence and sovereignty over all its territories."
The meetings in Abu Dhabi also included Syrian Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra and intelligence chief Anas Khattab, according to WAM.
Their trip to the UAE followed visits to its Gulf neighbors: Qatar on Sunday, and last week, Saudi Arabia, which was their first foreign stop.
Earlier, Syria's official news agency, SANA, reported that Shaibani had arrived in the UAE with the other officials.
The foreign minister posted a picture of himself on X (formerly Twitter) stepping off a plane and expressed his hope "to build constructive bilateral relations."
The interim government in Syria took office after Islamist-led rebels swept into Damascus in early December, toppling Assad after 13 years of civil war.
Analysts say the UAE is deeply suspicious of Syria's new leaders, reflecting its distrust of political Islam and concern over the growing influence of Turkey in the war-torn country.
Both Qatar and Turkey, which supported the anti-Assad opposition, reopened their embassies in Damascus after Assad fled to Moscow.
Turkey has long maintained a working relationship with the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham rebels, who led the opposition alliance, providing it with a direct line to Damascus.
UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash said last month that his government found the Islamist affiliations of Syria's new rulers "quite worrying."
With AFP
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