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Syrian president receives UAE's 1st envoy to Damascus after 13 years

Tuesday, 06 February 2024 9:42 PM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 07 February 2024 1:03 AM ]

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (L) accepts the credentials of Hassan Ahmed al-Shehhi as Abu Dhabi's ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Damascus on February 6, 2024. (Courtesy of SANA)

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has received the first ambassador to be sent by the United Arab Emirates to Damascus in 13 years.

Assad accepted the credentials of Hassan Ahmed al-Shehhi as Abu Dhabi's ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the Syrian capital on Tuesday, the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported.

Syria's Al-Watan newspaper revealed al-Shehhi's arrival in the Syrian capital late last month.

UAE sends first ambassador to Syria in 13 years

The UAE ambassador to Syria takes post in Syria, becoming the first time envoy to Damascus since the Syrian war erupted in 2011.

Al-Shehhi had served as the Emirates' ambassador to Iraq since 2015, and before that, he was Abu Dhabi's envoy to Sudan.

Abu Dhabi withdrew its envoy from Damascus in 2011, when Syria found itself in the grip of rampant foreign-backed militancy and Takfiri terrorism.

Enlisting the assistance of its allies, most notably Iran and Russia, however, the Arab country began to fight back.

During more than a decade of uphill battle, Syria managed to claw back huge swaths of its territory from the foreign-sponsored groups.

The battleground victories was followed by several Arab countries' starting to restore their ties with Damascus.

The UAE reopened its embassy in Damascus in December 2018, tasking Charge d'Affaires Abdul Hakim al-Nuaimi with handling the diplomatic affairs between the countries.

Emirati Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan also visited Syria in late 2021.