The United Arab Emirates top diplomat Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Syria's new Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani "discussed ways to enhance the strong fraternal relations between the two countries," UAE's official WAM news agency reported.

The UAE had championed restoring ties with Assad in the years before his downfall, a stance that paved the way for his reintegration into the Arab League in 2023.

Sheikh Abdullah also "reiterated the UAE's firm position in supporting Syria's independence and sovereignty over all its territories".

The meetings in Abu Dhabi also included Syrian Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra and intelligence chief Anas Khattab, according to WAM.

Their trip to the UAE comes after they visited its Gulf neighbours, Qatar on Sunday, and last week Saudi Arabia which was their first foreign stop.

Earlier, Syria's official news agency SANA reported Shaibani had arrived in the UAE with the other officials.

The foreign minister posted a picture of himself on X stepping off a plane, and said he looked forward "to building constructive bilateral relations".

The interim government in Syria took office after rebels swept into Damascus in early December, toppling Assad after 13 years of civil war.

Analysts say the UAE is deeply suspicious of Syria's new leaders, reflecting its distrust for political Islam and fear of outsized Turkish influence in the war-scarred country.

Both Qatar and Turkey, which backed the anti-Assad opposition, reopened their embassies in Damascus in the aftermath of Assad's flight to Moscow.

Turkey has long maintained a working relationship with the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham rebels who spearheaded the rebel alliance, leaving it with a direct line to Damascus.

UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash said last month that his government found the Islamist affiliation of Syria's new rulers "quite worrying".