Middle East summits cement Syria's Sharaa as regional leader - analysis

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa traveled to the United Arab Emirates on Sunday, just after attending an important forum in Turkey’s Antalya on April 11.

These trips are essential for Sharaa because he is showing his clout and his ability to navigate the complex politics of the Middle East.

While Turkey and the UAE have amicable ties today, the countries had worse relations several years ago. They tend to be on opposite sides on various issues and policies. For instance, Ankara is typically friendly toward Hamas and also backs the government in Tripoli, whereas the UAE has backed Libyan groups in eastern Libya and is not keen on Hamas.

This is not Sharaa’s first trip abroad. After coming into power following the downfall of former president Bashar al-Assad’s regime, Sharaa traveled to Saudi Arabia. Then he went to Turkey, after which he visited Cairo.

This demonstrates that Sharaa was attempting to balance various powerful countries in the region. Saudi Arabia and Turkey both appear to seek support from the Islamic world for assorted causes. When Saudi Arabia led countries to break ties with Qatar in 2017, Turkey backed Qatar.

Sharaa is also balancing countries because he wants support for the new Syria. He also wants to ensure that he is not perceived as a proxy or as being controlled by any one country.

As for Turkey, it will play a key role in investing in and rebuilding Syria’s infrastructure. Damascus will also seek investment from the Gulf states.

Further, Syria has also worked on nurturing new ties with Azerbaijan and South Korea.

Sharaa’s visits across the Gulf are also noteworthy because countries like the UAE and Saudi Arabia appeared to be ready to let the Assad regime come in from the cold in 2023.

When the regime fell in 2024, they risked losing influence in Damascus. Sharaa is showing that they have the influence and that he wants them on board.

Al-Sharaa and MBZ

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE’s president, met with Sharaa in Abu Dhabi and “wished him success in leading Syria through the coming period and in fulfilling the Syrian people’s hopes for development, security, and stability,” according to state media in the UAE.

According to these reports, the “two leaders discussed several issues of mutual interest and exchanged views on regional and international developments.”

The Syrian leader also met with Syrian businesspeople in the UAE. During the meetings, Sharaa was accompanied by his Foreign Minister, Asaad al-Shaibani.

Shaibani has been a key figure in the remaking of modern Syria and is often by Sharaa’s side in these meetings.

Per the Syrian state media, “The diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, Anwar Gargash, affirmed that the meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa was successful at all levels, noting the UAE’s keenness to support Syria.”

Gargash said, “I was honored to attend the meeting of... Zayed with... Sharaa, a successful meeting at all levels.”

Gargash added that the president’s commitment to supporting building “the new state in Syria” was pointed out.“We consider prosperous and stable Syria as a necessary pillar for the region’s future,” he continued.

The meetings in the UAE are a potential new stage in Syria’s relations with the region. In the wake of the Antalya trip, where Sharaa met with Turkey’s president and representatives and leaders of other countries from Indonesia to Kosovo, the Syrian leader is cementing himself as a regional leader and statesman.

There are several other countries he wants to visit, like Qatar. Sharaa has already received high-level visits from Qatar, but going there in person will be important.

He also wants to travel to Iraq, Syria’s key neighbor and necessary security partner. Then, the big spotlight will be on when he makes his first trip outside of the Middle East.