Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani personally welcomed Sharaa at Hamad International Airport, according to the official Qatar News Agency [QNA]
Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa arrived in Doha on Tuesday for his first official visit to Qatar, a key backer of the country’s post-Assad administration. The visit marks a deepening of diplomatic ties between the two nations and comes amid a wave of regional engagement with Syria’s new leadership.
According to the official Qatar News Agency, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani personally welcomed Sharaa at Hamad International Airport.
The Syrian delegation includes Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani, who wrote on X: “We accompany His Excellency President Ahmed Al-Sharaa on his first presidential visit to the country that has stood by Syrians from day one and has never abandoned them.”
Sharaa’s rise to power follows the ouster of longtime president Bashar Al-Assad on 8 December. His administration, backed by a broad opposition alliance led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, has received early support from regional powers including Turkey, Qatar, and several Arab states.
Qatar, in particular, was one of the first Arab countries to support the 2011 uprising against Assad and refused to re-establish ties with his regime.
Tuesday’s visit to Doha comes just days after a high-level trip to the United Arab Emirates, where Sharaa and Shaibani met Emirati President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The UAE expressed support for Syria’s reconstruction, part of a wider regional push to assist the country after nearly 14 years of war.
During a January visit to Damascus, Qatar’s Sheikh Tamim became the first Arab leader to meet with Sharaa, pledging Qatari support for Syria’s sovereignty and stability.
Doha has since announced plans to provide 200 megawatts of electricity to Syria, with the possibility of increasing supply as part of infrastructure rehabilitation efforts.
According to the Qatari Emiri Diwan, the emir previously stressed the need for Syria to form an inclusive government, rebuild national institutions, and pursue development projects to support long-term stability and prosperity. President Al-Sharaa welcomed Qatar’s stance and called for a strategic partnership between the two countries.
Al-Sharaa’s visit reflects the new administration’s flurry of regional diplomacy. He has already visited several Arab capitals and Turkey in recent months, seeking support for reconstruction and regional reintegration. Analysts say Qatar’s early and public backing has positioned it as a key diplomatic force for the new Syrian leadership.
Middle East analyst Andreas Krieg told The New Arab‘s Arabic language edition that Qatar had become “the most important interlocutor with the al-Sharaa government in the Arab world, at least after Turkey”, describing the Gulf state as a “diplomatic force multiplier” that could help reconnect Syria to neighbouring Lebanon.
Meanwhile, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun also arrived in Doha on Tuesday for his first official visit since his election in January.
According to his office, Aoun will hold bilateral talks with Sheikh Tamim and participate in expanded discussions with both Qatari and Lebanese delegations.
The visit follows Monday’s meeting between Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and President Sharaa in Damascus, aimed at restoring ties between the two countries.
Lebanon and Syria have been working to reset relations following the fall of the Assad regime. Damascus had long exerted political influence in Beirut, with Assad’s government widely accused of assassinating Lebanese politicians and journalists opposed to Syrian interference.
