- Senior officials from Syria and the UAE met in Damascus to discuss expanding cooperation in universities, research institutions, and student exchange programmes.
- Talks included enhancing scientific research, integrating modern technologies into academia, and improving institutional capacity and innovation.
- Both countries aim to develop joint research projects, faculty exchanges, and scholarship programmes to strengthen academic collaboration and human capital development.
Syria and the United Arab Emirates are exploring ways to deepen cooperation in higher education and scientific research, as senior officials from both countries met in Damascus to discuss expanding academic ties. Syrian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Marwan al-Halabi held talks on Tuesday with the UAE’s Ambassador to Syria, Hamad Rashid bin Alwan Al-Habsi, focusing on opportunities to strengthen collaboration across universities, research institutions and student exchange programmes.
During the meeting, the two sides reviewed prospects for developing cooperation in the higher education sector, including the exchange of scholarships and academic visits between Syria and the UAE. Al-Halabi said strengthening educational cooperation is a key priority for Syria as it works to modernise its academic institutions and create more opportunities for students and researchers. He noted that partnerships with regional and international counterparts can play an important role in improving academic outcomes and building institutional capacity.
Discussions also covered ways to enhance scientific research and promote digital transformation across universities. Al-Halabi highlighted the importance of integrating modern technologies into teaching, research and administration, saying this would help raise academic quality standards and better prepare students for evolving labour market needs. He added that collaboration with the UAE could support efforts to develop research infrastructure and encourage innovation within Syrian higher education institutions.
Ambassador Al-Habsi said the UAE is keen to expand cooperation with Syria in education and research, building on the progress made in recent years. He stressed that exchanging expertise, academic experiences and best practices would benefit institutions and students in both countries. According to Al-Habsi, strengthening people-to-people and academic links is an effective way to reinforce broader bilateral relations and contribute to sustainable development in the region.
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The two sides also discussed the possibility of expanding scholarship exchange programmes, with a view to opening new opportunities for Syrian and Emirati students and researchers. Officials said such initiatives would allow participants to benefit from shared academic expertise, specialised training and exposure to different educational systems, while also supporting the needs of universities and research centres in both countries.
Syrian–Emirati relations in the scientific and educational fields have seen noticeable progress in recent years, reflecting a broader improvement in bilateral ties. Both countries have expressed interest in moving beyond traditional forms of cooperation towards more structured and long-term academic partnerships. These could include joint research projects, faculty exchange programmes and collaborative initiatives aimed at addressing common challenges in higher education.
Concluding the meeting, Al-Halabi said continued dialogue and coordination would be essential to translating discussions into practical outcomes that positively impact students, researchers and institutions. Ambassador Al-Habsi echoed this view, saying sustained cooperation in education and science could serve as a foundation for deeper collaboration in other sectors and contribute to the development of human capital in both Syria and the UAE.
