UAE Moves To Resume Flights To Syria After Assad’s Fall
The United Arab Emirates announced Monday that it is working to restore commercial air travel with Syria, signaling a new phase in diplomatic and economic ties between the two countries following the collapse of President Bashar Assad’s government in December 2024. Flights were halted in early January, shortly after the change in Syrian leadership.
According to a statement by the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority, officials from both nations are coordinating the technical and regulatory steps needed to resume both passenger and cargo flights. No exact timeline has been given for when services will restart.
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The move follows a meeting in Abu Dhabi on Sunday between UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, who assumed power after Assad’s ouster. During the meeting, Sheikh Mohammed expressed the UAE’s backing for Syria’s sovereignty and pledged support for rebuilding efforts. “The UAE supports Syria’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity,” he said, adding that his country is committed to helping Syrians through the current transitional period.
The planned reopening of air links is part of a broader trend in the region as Arab countries explore reengagement with Damascus following more than a decade of isolation due to the Syrian civil war. Syria’s return to the Arab League in 2023 was one such step, though full normalization with many states remains a work in progress.
While the aviation announcement is largely symbolic for now, it reflects growing Gulf interest in stabilizing Syria and reestablishing economic and political connections after years of estrangement.
