DAMASCUS (Ruptly) — The embassy of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Syrian capital Damascus reopened today for the first time in seven years, said the Syrian Information Ministry.

On Thursday afternoon, UAE’s charge d’affaires Abdul-Hakim Naimi visited the embassy and witnessed his country’s flag being raised again on the compound in central Damascus.

The move provides a major boost to Assad, whose forces have won a series of military victories in recent years with the help of Russia and Iran. Sudan’s President Omar Bashir visited Damascus earlier this month, becoming the first Arab head of state to visit Syria since the start of the war.