Syrians wave national flags and raise a portrait of their president as they celebrate in the streets of the capital Damascus, a day after an election set to give President Bashar al-Assad a fourth term. The election held in government-held areas was the second presidential vote in Syria since the start in 2011 of a war that has left over 388,000 dead. Photo: AFP

The United Arab Emirates foreign minister met President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus on Tuesday, a sign of improving ties between Assad and a US-allied Arab state that once supported rebels trying to overthrow him.

Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed is the most senior Emirati dignitary to visit Syria in the decade since the eruption of a civil war in which several Arab states backed mainly Sunni Muslim insurgents against Assad.

Washington, which opposes efforts to normalize ties with Assad or rehabilitate him until progress is made toward a political solution to the conflict, said it was concerned about the move by its ally the UAE. 

The foreign minister led a delegation of senior Emirati officials that discussed bilateral relations and cooperation in a meeting with Syrian counterparts, a statement by the Syrian presidency said.

The participants discussed exploring "new horizons for this cooperation, especially in vital sectors in order to strengthen investment partnerships in these sectors," the statement said.

Sheikh Abdullah underlined in his meeting with Assad "UAE's keenness on the security, stability and unity of Syria," UAE's state news agency WAM said.

UAE senior official Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the Emirates president, wrote on Twitter that "the UAE continues to build bridges, boost relationships, and connect what was cut off... and will be keen to spare the region further congestion and continuous conflicts."

Reuters