Sun Apr 06 23:53:00 UTC 2025: ## Syrian President Embarks on Gulf and Turkish Diplomatic Tour
**BEIRUT, April 7, 2025** – Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa will undertake his first official visits to the United Arab Emirates and Turkey next week, the Syrian foreign ministry announced Sunday. This trip follows his recent visits to Saudi Arabia and Turkey in February, marking a significant diplomatic push by the new administration.
Sharaa’s ascendance to power came after a swift December offensive led by his Sunni Islamist group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, ousted Bashar al-Assad. The new leadership is actively seeking to rebuild relations with Arab and Western nations, and a key element of this strategy is the pursuit of sanctions relief.
Syria’s economy has been devastated by nearly 14 years of war and crippling sanctions imposed by the US, UK, and Europe targeting individuals, businesses, and entire sectors under the Assad regime. The Sharaa administration hopes that improved international relations will lead to the lifting of these sanctions, vital for economic recovery.
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