Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, discussed ways to strengthen bilateral ties with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al Shibani during his first trip to the UAE since taking office.

During the meeting in Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Abdullah reiterated the UAE's firm position in safeguarding Syria's unity and sovereignty and called for international co-operation in protecting the country's security and stability, state news agency Wam reported.

Syrian Defence Minister, Murhaf Abu Qasra, and the new head of intelligence, Anas Khattab, also attended the meeting.

The new government in Syria is seeking investment and improved relations with countries in the region as it embarks on rebuilding the country's economy and infrastructure, devastated by more than a decade of war.

Mr Al Shibani had earlier travelled to Doha where he held talks with Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, who also serves as Foreign Minister. He took the opportunity to urge the US to lift sanctions on Damascus, saying it “constitutes a barrier and an obstacle to the rapid recovery and development of the Syrian people who await services and partnerships from other countries”.

Mr Al Shibani, who had earlier travelled to Saudi Arabia, will travel to Jordan next. “We look forward to these visits contributing to support stability, security, economic recovery, and building distinguished partnerships,” he said on X last week.

Countries in the region and beyond have reached out to the new Syrian administration led by Hayat Tahrir Al Sham chief Ahmad Al Shara since the rebel group took power last month.

Kuwait's Foreign Minister Abdullah Al Yahya and Jassim Al Budaiwi, Secretary General of the GCC, last week visited Damascus. In a sign of western support, France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and German Foreign Minister Anna Baerbock met Mr Al Shara in Damascus on Friday, but few details were made public.