Opening of the Saudi embassy in Syria.. What does it indicate?
The Saudi Embassy in Damascus announced that it held a celebration on the occasion of the reopening of its operations in the Syrian capital, in the presence of a number of Syrian government officials and members of the accredited diplomatic corps.
And it was Saudi Arabia In September 2023, Syria announced the resumption of its diplomatic missions after a hiatus that lasted for years, days after Damascus returned to the Arab League.
The Saudi embassy in Damascus said in a post on its official account on the “X” platform, formerly Twitter: “The Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Syria held a celebration on the occasion of the reopening of the embassy in Damascus.”
The embassy’s post added that “the Chargé d’Affaires at the Saudi Embassy, Mr. Abdullah Al-Harees, announced the reopening of the embassy’s work in Damascus, and indicated in a speech on this occasion that this day is an important moment in the relations between the two countries and the two brotherly peoples.”
The Chargé d’Affaires a.i. stressed the “Embassy and its staff’s keenness to make every effort to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.”
The embassy’s post concluded by saying: “The ceremony was attended by a number of ministers, senior officials in the Syrian government, members of the diplomatic corps accredited to Damascus, and a group of dignitaries and intellectuals.”
What about flights between the two countries?
Last July, regular commercial flights between Syria and Saudi Arabia resumed, for the first time in more than 10 years, as part of improving relations between the two countries, according to what Syrian state media reported at the time.
In May, Syrian pilgrims traveled on a direct flight to Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj, but the Syrian Airlines flight to Riyadh marks a return to regular flights, according to the Associated Press.
But Akhbar Now contacted Iqlaa Tourism and Travel Company in Saudi Arabia for further inquiries.
The company said, “There are currently no flights between Syria and Saudi Arabia, whether direct or indirect (transit) flights.”
She explained that “after the opening of the Saudi embassy in Damascus, it is expected that there will be positive coordination regarding the issue of aviation.”
The company pointed out that “if the airlines wish to resume flights, this will be in accordance with an agreement between Saudi and Syrian Airlines.”
Illustrative map of the location of Damascus International Airport
She continued: The problem is in Damascus Airport Himself, not in Saudi airlines…as many flights to it are banned.”
Activate relationships
The Syrian state news agency SANA quoted the Syrian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Ayman Raad, on Monday evening, stressing the “depth of fraternal relations and social ties that unite Syria and Saudi Arabia,” noting that by reopening the Saudi embassy in Damascus and before that the opening of the Syrian embassy in Riyadh, “relations between the two countries will be activated in order to enhance joint Arab action, including the interests of the peoples of the region.”
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan made the first official visit by a senior Saudi official to Syria in years, on April 18, 2023. The visit came days after a similar visit by Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad to Jeddah.
