📰 Cautious Engagement Governs Arab and Gulf Relations with Syria’s New Leadership

Since Ahmad al-Sharaa assumed leadership of syria/" class="auto-internal-link">syria’s transitional administration in early 2025, the Arab region has witnessed a measured shift in its approach toward damascus, ending over a decade of diplomatic estrangement. This recalibration has opened the door to renewed Arab and Gulf engagement with Syria—seen by some as a symbolic return to Arab fold, and by others as a cautious maneuver shaped by evolving political calculations. Mohammed al-Yamani, a researcher in international relations, informed 963+ that the period between 2023 and 2025 marked a delicate phase of diplomatic recalibration. Furthermore, syria’s reinstatement to the Arab League in 2023, he noted, was “a vital testing moment for Gulf capitals to explore the feasibility of reintegrating Damascus into the regional order after years of isolation. ” as per Yamani, Gulf positions evolved incrementally.

Additionally, saudi Arabia championed Syria’s return under a policy of “containment through integration. ” The UAE pursued economic engagement, while Qatar maintained a conditional posture tied to political reform. Kuwait, for its part, opted for restraint and observation. Gulf Rapprochement: From Isolation to Tentative Reconnection Al-Sharaa’s rise to power triggered a wave of Gulf overtures—most notably from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain. His February 2025 visit to Riyadh marked the first clear Gulf endorsement of Syria’s transitional phase, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s strategy of “containment over isolation. ” The UAE emphasized Syria’s territorial unity and its role in reconstruction, while Bahrain voiced backing for restoring state institutions.

This momentum culminated in a Gulf Cooperation Council summit in Mecca and a high-profile visit by al-Sharaa to Abu Dhabi in July 2025, accompanied by the gradual reopening of embassies. Yet by mid-2025, the pace of engagement slowed. Yamani attributes this to Syria’s limited internal reforms, persistent Western sanctions, the eruption of the Gaza war, and diverging Gulf approaches to the syrian file. Saudi Arabia: Strategic backing Within Clear Parameters From the outset, Saudi Arabia welcomed the transitional administration, emphasising Syria’s unity and the rejection of foreign interference.

In an August 2025 statement, Riyadh framed the success of Syria’s transition as a cornerstone of Arab security. Yamani underscored Saudi Arabia’s “pivotal role in advocating Syria’s return to the Arab League,” noting that deeper cooperation depends on Damascus’ ability to rein in armed groups, curb Iranian influence, and preserve institutional cohesion. Ibrahim Kaban, director of the Geostrategic Studies Network, informed 963+ that Saudi and Gulf support is “not rooted in ideological alignment but in shared strategic…