Syria’s president Bashar Assad visits United Arab Emirates

Syrian president Bashar Assad, left, meets Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (Syrian presidency Facebook page/AP)

President Bashar Assad of Syria has travelled to the United Arab Emirates, marking his first visit to an Arab country since Syria’s civil war erupted in 2011, the country’s presidency office said.

In a statement posted on its social media pages, the presidency office says Assad met Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the UAE and the ruler of Dubai, on Friday.