Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa visited the Gulf last week as part of his efforts to shore up support for Damascus amid regional tensions.
Sharaa has sought to maintain close relations with Turkey and the Gulf states. This is important for Damascus because it wants to now serve as a regional hub linking the Gulf with the wider world.
Due to the Iran crisis, there is increased interest in land connections between the Middle East and Europe, as well as the Gulf and Central Asia. As such, Syria’s president is seeking to continue cementing the connections it wants. Through this, it might secure oil contracts and other trade deals.
Syria’s state media said on Wednesday that al-Sharaa and an accompanying delegation had arrived in Abu Dhabi to meet with the president of the United Arab Emirates, Sheik Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, "to discuss regional developments and ways to enhance bilateral cooperation.” Sharaa was received by the UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheik Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Sharaa also went to Saudi Arabia and met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud. Saudi Arabia was key to helping Syria improve relations with the United States after al-Sharaa came to power.
He also visited Qatar, a key ally of Turkey's that is also keen to back Damascus. Sharaa met in Doha with the Emir of Qatar, Sheik Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, according to Syrian state media, "with both sides stressing the importance of strengthening bilateral relations across various fields.”
Syria key to the future of the Middle East
Interpretations of the visit illustrate how the region sees Syria as key to the future of the Middle East. The Arab Weekly noted, “Sharaa launches Gulf outreach with Saudi visit, signaling Syria’s regional reset.”
The report argued that “for Damascus, Saudi investment is seen as central to post-conflict recovery efforts, particularly in rebuilding infrastructure and stimulating economic growth after years of war and sanctions. In return, Syria offers Gulf investors potential opportunities in reconstruction, energy, and services sectors, creating what officials describe as mutually reinforcing economic interests.”
In other developments, the Syrian leader also met with Mohammed bin Abdullah Abu Nayan, Chairman of the Saudi-Syrian Business Council, during his visit to Saudi Arabia. In addition, SANA noted that “Representatives from the energy ministries of Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon held a virtual meeting to review the executive procedures required to activate the Arab Gas Pipeline and supply Lebanon with its energy needs.”
It is now clear that recent efforts to begin pumping gas are bearing fruit. Syria “affirmed that the Syrian gas network is at its highest level of readiness following the completion of all necessary technical tests along the route extending from the Jordanian–Syrian border to the Lebanese border.”
After the trip to the Gulf, Sharaa went to meetings in Cyprus with European officials. According to Syrian state media, al-Sharaa asserted that "Syria is positioned to become a secure strategic corridor linking Central Asia and the Gulf with Europe," while presenting a vision of regional connectivity to the European Union and regional partners.
Sharaa described the gathering as marking " a moment of political and strategic maturity reflecting a new geopolitical reality that goes beyond traditional frameworks of cooperation.”