The United Arab Emirates has invited Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to attend this year’s United Nations climate summit, Syria’s state news agency SANA reported Monday.
The Gulf country is set to host COP28 in Dubai from November 30 to December 12. According to SANA, the UAE’s embassy handed Assad an official invitation from President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Sunday.
The invitation comes as a growing number of Arab countries are starting to revive relations with the Assad regime, which has presided over a brutal 12-year civil war that has killed more than 300,000 people and driven half the population from their homes.
The Arab League readmitted Syria earlier this month.
POLITICO reached out to the United Nations climate body, the UAE climate envoy’s office and the UAE embassy in Damascus for comment, but did not get a response at the time of publication.
