On January 30th, 2025, Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani visited Damascus to meet with the de facto Syrian government and transitional President Ahmed al-Sharaa. This was the first time a head of state has visited Syria since Assad’s government fell in December 2024. Emir Tamim and President al-Sharaa constructed a framework for postwar reconstruction in Syria, with the hopes of maintaining peace and ensuring that all  Syrians are safe and represented fairly. Shortly before this meeting, al-Sharaa was named transitional president, and announcements were made regarding armed forces being dissolved into state institutions, actions that Qatari officials believe are “a necessary step to protect the country’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.” The embassy of Qatar in Damascus reopened in December, after being closed since 2011 in protest of Assad’s treatment of demonstrators at the onset of the Syrian Civil War.

During the visit, Emir Tamim met with foreign and defense ministers to discuss the future of the Syrian government. The Qatari royal court said that Tamim emphasized “the urgent need to form a government that represents all segments of the Syrian people,” something that al-Sharaa has promised to commit to. Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed Bin Mubarak al-Khulaffi and new Syrian foreign minister, Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, held a joint press conference to discuss the country’s relations and plans for the future. In this press conference,
al-Shibani promised that “The Syrian people won’t forget Qatar’s committed position while we open a new chapter in a new Syria”.

This diplomatic visit is a great step in strengthening relations between Qatar and Syria’s new government. The meeting is also a smart strategic move for Qatar, as it sets the state up to be a key player in Syria’s reconstruction. Already, Qatar, an oil and energy-rich country, has promised Syria a stipend of electricity and plans to increase the stipend as time continues.

Moving forward, it is important to keep an eye on the situation in Syria. Though it may seem easy to ignore now that Assad is no longer in power, it is essential for the international community to ensure Syrians are getting the help they need and the government they deserve after suffering for so long. It is not uncommon in situations like this for violence to roll back and oppressors to take power. However, with support from Qatar and other countries, this can be prevented.

The people of Syria have suffered under the Assad regime for decades; Bashar al-Assad became president in 2000 when his father, the previous president, died. Because the Assad regime was an Alawite regime, and Syria is a majority Sunni country, many Syrians did not feel accurately represented, resulting in anti-regime uprisings which Assad crushed with force, ultimately resulting in the long and bloody Civil War beginning in 2011. Qatar has long been a supporter of the Syrian people, specifically supporting opposition under the Assad rule, likely because Qatar is also a majority Sunni country. According to the Stimson Center, Qatar’s capital, Doha, remained one of the biggest backers of opposition groups throughout the entire Civil War in Syria, providing financial and military support. Additionally, Qatar regularly provided humanitarian aid to Syrians, totaling millions of dollars.

Moving forward, this meeting will be remembered as monumental, as it marks the first
visit of an Arab leader to the de-facto government in Syria. Though the future of Syria is still
uncertain, the relationship between these states will be essential in ensuring a continued peaceful transition of power and the establishment of a fair, just government, which the Syrian people deserve.

For further background on the Syrian Civil War and the toppling of the Assad regime, visit
https://theowp.org/crisis_index/syrian-civil-war/.