UAE President congratulates Syrian counterpart on Evacuation Day

President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Thursday congratulated Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa on the occasion of Evacuation Day.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, also dispatched similar congratulatory messages to President Al-Sharaa. 

Evacuation Day, known locally as Jalaa Day, is Syria's national day and marks the withdrawal of the last French soldiers from the country in 1946, five years after Syria claimed full independence. April 17 effectively marks the end of the French mandate in Syria. 

The UAE hosts at least 224,000 Syrian nationals, according to the most recent demographic statistics released in 2022. 

The UAE and Syria are attempting to forge closer relations, as the new administration looks to build solid partnerships after the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. 

During Al-Sharaa's working visit earlier this week, Sheikh Mohamed affirmed the UAE’s readiness to extend all possible support to Syria.

The UAE's General Aviation Authority also announced on Tuesday resumption of flights to and from Damascus.