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UAE Suspends All Flights to and from Damascus International Airport

The United Arab Emirates has announced the suspension of all flights to and from Damascus International Airport without providing details regarding the reasons, despite having previously expressed approval to resume flights after the overthrow of the Assad regime.
In this context, Ahmed Abbas Agha, Director of Commercial Affairs and Marketing at the Syrian Air Corporation, published a circular stating that the UAE has halted operations to Damascus Airport, confirming that all tickets booked on the corporation’s flights will be exempt from penalties upon refund.
Agha clarified that travelers will be informed of any updates regarding the resumption of flights with the UAE. Local travelers confirmed that they received notifications about the cancellation of their flights with "Ajnha al-Sham" and "Syrian Airlines" to the UAE. They also received emails containing an official circular confirming the cancellations, along with promises to update them on any future developments.
One of the flights operated by the Syrian Air Corporation took off yesterday, Tuesday, to Sharjah Airport but returned to Damascus after the official announcement of the airport's reopening to international flights following the fall of the Assad regime. Two days ago, "Ajnha al-Sham" announced that it would start operating daily flights from Damascus Airport to Sharjah Airport and vice versa, confirming that it would gradually add a flight schedule for other destinations.
So far, no official clarifications have been issued by the UAE regarding the reason for this decision, and the Syrian side has not commented on the matter. It is worth noting that Syrian Airlines is responsible for transporting passengers to and from the UAE, as official Emirates Airlines has not been operating in this capacity since the previous regime's rule.
This decision comes two days after a visit by a Syrian delegation from the new Syrian administration to the UAE, which included Foreign Minister Assad al-Shaibani, Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra, and Intelligence Chief Anas Khattab, on an Arab tour that began in Qatar and ended in Jordan.
The reception of the Syrian delegation by UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan sparked widespread controversy, described as "inappropriate." The UAE flag was displayed at the front of the hall where the meeting was held, while Al Nahyan was wearing sneakers. Others pointed out that the UAE might be expressing frustration regarding events in Syria due to its previous close relations with the regime. Meanwhile, Emirati Twitter users mentioned that Minister Al Nahyan often hosts political figures in informal settings, indicating an attempt to show friendly relations with visitors.
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Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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