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Gulf

UAE Ambassador to Syria Takes Post in Damascus

President Bashar al-Assad welcoming Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Damascus, November 2021. (Syrian Presidency)
President Bashar al-Assad welcoming Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Damascus, November 2021. (Syrian Presidency)
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UAE Ambassador to Syria Takes Post in Damascus

President Bashar al-Assad welcoming Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Damascus, November 2021. (Syrian Presidency)
President Bashar al-Assad welcoming Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Damascus, November 2021. (Syrian Presidency)

The first United Arab Emirates ambassador to Damascus in nearly 13 years took up his post on Tuesday.

Syrian state media said the country’s Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad received Ambassador Hassan Ahmad al-Shihi’s credentials.

The UAE embassy was reopened in Syria in late 2018 and a charge d’affaires has been in charge of the diplomatic mission since then.

Al-Shihi will be the first UAE ambassador to Syria since 2011.

Al-Shihi served as the UAE's ambassador to Iraq since 2015 and held a previous post as the ambassador to Sudan.

The reopening of the UAE embassy in Syria in December 2018 ended seven years of strained relations following the Arab League's decision to suspend Syria's membership and severe ties with the country.

The UAE is the first Arab country to restore ties with Damascus. In November 2021, Emirati Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed visited Damascus and met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

In March 2023, al-Assad arrived in the UAE for an official visit, accompanied by his wife. Assad held talks with President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, during which they discussed on bilateral ties.

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Gulf

Faisal bin Farhan, Araghchi Discuss Latest Developments

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah
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Faisal bin Farhan, Araghchi Discuss Latest Developments

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah held a phone call with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

During the call, the two ministers reviewed the latest developments in negotiations between Iran and the United States, as well as progress in implementing the agreed understandings, SPA said.

They also discussed regional developments and underscored the importance of continuing efforts to advance dialogue and diplomatic solutions in a manner that serves the shared interests of the countries and peoples of the region, the news agency added.

Gulf

Saudi Foreign Minister in Bahrain for GCC-US Ministerial Meeting

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah arrived in Manama on Wednesday. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah arrived in Manama on Wednesday. (SPA)
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Saudi Foreign Minister in Bahrain for GCC-US Ministerial Meeting

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah arrived in Manama on Wednesday. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah arrived in Manama on Wednesday. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah arrived in Manama on Wednesday to take part in the ministerial meeting between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states and the United States, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Upon arrival, he was received by Bahraini Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani.

The meeting is expected to tackle the strategic cooperation between the GCC member states and the US, as well as key regional and international issues.

Gulf

Saudi FM Holds Talks with Turkish, Kyrgyz Counterparts

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah chairs his delegation's a meeting of foreign ministers from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Pakistan, at Tahrir Palace in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, June 21, 2026. (AP)
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah chairs his delegation's a meeting of foreign ministers from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Pakistan, at Tahrir Palace in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, June 21, 2026. (AP)
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Saudi FM Holds Talks with Turkish, Kyrgyz Counterparts

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah chairs his delegation's a meeting of foreign ministers from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Pakistan, at Tahrir Palace in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, June 21, 2026. (AP)
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah chairs his delegation's a meeting of foreign ministers from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Pakistan, at Tahrir Palace in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, June 21, 2026. (AP)

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah received on Wednesday a telephone call today from his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan.

They discussed regional developments and issues of mutual interest.

Prince Faisal also held telephone talks with his Kyrgyz counterpart Zheenbek Kulubaev.

Pince Faisal congratulated him on the election of Kyrgyzstan as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2027–2028 term, hoping it will contribute in supporting the council’s efforts to promote international peace and security.

They also reviewed bilateral relations and ways to strengthen them across various fields and discussed regional and international developments and efforts made in this regard.