UAE foreign ministry reopens embassy in Syrian capital

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) reopened its embassy in Syrian capital Damascus on Thursday, the UAE's ministry of foreign affairs and international cooperation said in a statement.

The embassy has been closed since the eruption of the Syrian crisis in 2011.

"The acting ambassador has started his work at the headquarters of the embassy as of Thursday," the ministry said in a statement.

It added the move confirmed the UAE's keenness to restore the relations between the two "brotherly countries" to its normal path.

"The UAE decisions will promote the Arab role in boosting independence and sovereignty of Syria, unity of lands and regional safety of the country against challenges," it added.

The statement reiterated that the UAE looks forward to seeing peace, security and stability prevail in Syria.

The Arab League suspended Syria's membership in 2011. But restoring ties with the government of President Bashar al-Assad seemed gradually occurring.

Earlier this month, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir became the first Arab head of state to visit Damascus since the start of the Syrian conflict.

The border crossing between Syria and Jordan was reopened in October.

The embassy of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will reopen in Damascus on Thursday after a six-year break, making it the first Arab embassy to start working again in Syria after closing as a result of the war, a source in the Syrian Foreign Ministry told Sputnik.

“The UAE embassy in Damascus will reopen in the second half of the day,” the source said.

The final preparations for the opening of the diplomatic mission are underway, a Sputnik correspondent reported from the scene. The embassy building was renovated earlier this week.

During the Syrian conflict that began in 2011, over 30 countries closed their embassies or relocated diplomatic staff to Beirut, including the United States, Saudi Arabia, and the EU mission. The United Arab Emirates closed the diplomatic mission and recalled the ambassador from Syria in 2012 due to the Syrian crisis.

The UAE is the first Arab country to restore the work of its embassy in Syria. Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mikdad said earlier that Damascus welcomed the resumption of work of Arab countries’ embassies in Syria.