Assad in UAE in 1st Arab country visit since 2011

Syrian President Bashar Assad was in the United Arab Emirates on Friday, his office said, marking his first visit to an Arab country since Syria’s civil war erupted in 2011. In a statement posted on its social media pages, the office said that Assad met with vice president and prime minister of the UAE and the ruler of Dubai.

The two discussed expanding bilateral relations between their countries. Assad also met with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The visit sends the clearest signal yet that the Arab world is willing to re-engage with Syria’s once widely shunned president.