ABU DHABI, 3 June 2008 — The United Arab Emirates said yesterday it would provide half a million tons of wheat to Syria to help it cope with rising prices, as Syrian President Bashar Assad visited the country.
The aid was decided by UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan as a token of “solidarity” between the two countries, and the wheat will be bought on the international market, the state news agency WAM reported.
Sheikh Khalifa had made a similar gift to Yemen while giving Egypt one million tons of wheat.
Assad, who arrived in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, held a second round of talks yesterday with the UAE president which focused on joint Arab action and bilateral cooperation.
Assad also visited Dubai, where he met with the emirate’s ruler Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashed Al-Maktoum, who is also UAE vice president and prime minister.
Assad is due to visit Kuwait today.
