UAE reopens Syrian embassy amid regional influence race

Many Arab nations shut their embassies in Damascus in 2011 - but now a battle has begun to gain footholds there.

The United Arab Emirates has reopened its embassy in Syria, in a sign of improving diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The move reflects a "keenness to restore relations between the two brotherly countries to their normal course", a statement from the Dubai-based foreign ministry said.

It also looks set to pave the way for more Arab nations to reopen their embassies in the country.

Abdul-Hakim Naimi, the UAE's charge d'affaires, visited the site in Damascus and told journalists: "The opening of our embassy is the first step for the return of other Arab embassies."

The country's foreign affairs minister, Anwar Gargash, went a step further, saying the decision was "necessary to combat the rising influence of Iran and Turkey".

Iran, along with Russia, has been a key ally of Syria's President Bashar al Assad.

They have given military and logistical support that have helped the regime regain control of most of the territory it lost in the initial years of the civil war.

The UAE and Saudi Arabia are leading regional efforts to counter what they see as Iran's growing influence in the region.

Many Arab nations shut their embassies in Damascus in 2011 - including the UAE.

It came after a popular uprising against Assad was met with a violent crackdown, which descended into civil war. Syria was subsequently thrown out of the Arab League.

It is now believed the majority of its 22-country membership are in favour of it being re-admitted.

The decision to reopen the embassy follows months of increased diplomatic engagement between Damascus and Arab countries.

That includes a visit from Sudan's President Omar al Bashir earlier in December and an official meeting between Syrian and Egyptian intelligence chiefs in Cairo last weekend.

In October, Bahrain's foreign minister embraced his Syrian counterpart at the United Nations which, although described by officials as an "unplanned" meeting, was perceived by many as an attempt to re-engage with Syria after years of regional isolation.

Bahrain will reportedly reopen its embassy in Damascus next week.

President Assad told a Kuwaiti newspaper earlier this year that Syria had reached a "major understanding" with Arab states and claimed Western delegations had also visited Damascus with the intention of reopening their diplomatic missions.

It marks a significant turnaround in relations given that Arab and Western powers repeatedly called for him to step down from power in response to the bloodshed in the country.

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