Last Updated:January 31, 2026, 09:41 IST
Syria is expected participation at the India-Arab Foreign Ministers’ Meeting could mark the first ministerial-level contact with New Delhi in years.
India is all set to host the second India-Arab Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (IAFMM) on Saturday, January 31. The meeting marks a major diplomatic engagement with the Arab world and will be co-chaired by India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Who is attending?
Foreign ministers from Arab League member states, along with the Secretary General of the Arab League, will take part in the meeting, according to Ministry of External Affairs. The event will bring together representatives from all 22 Arab countries, including foreign ministers, other ministers, ministers of state, senior officials and the Arab League.
This will be the first time India is hosting the India-Arab Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi.
The meeting is being held after a gap of 10 years. The first IAFMM took place in Bahrain in 2016. During that meeting, ministers identified five priority areas for cooperation: economy, energy, education, media and culture. A range of activities across these sectors was also proposed.
What to expect from the second IAFMM?
The second IAFMM is expected to build on the earlier discussions, with a focus on expanding and deepening the India-Arab partnership. The IAFMM is the highest institutional mechanism guiding this partnership.
The partnership was formally established in March 2002 through a memorandum of understanding between India and the League of Arab States (LAS). A Memorandum of Cooperation to set up the Arab-India Cooperation Forum was signed during the visit of then Arab League Secretary General Amre Moussa to India in December 2008. This was revised in 2013 to streamline its structure. India currently holds observer status in the League of Arab States.
The meeting was preceded by the fourth India-Arab Senior Officials’ Meeting, which was scheduled for January 30, 2026.
Why the meeting matters?
Around 15 foreign ministers from Arab countries are expected to attend the meeting, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity. The gathering is being closely watched for the possible participation of Syria, which would mark the first ministerial-level contact between New Delhi and the government led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hasan al-Shaybani is among those likely to attend. If the visit takes place, it would be the first ministerial-level engagement between India and Damascus since the formation of the government led by former Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham leader Ahmed al-Sharaa. An Indian diplomat of middle rank visited Damascus in mid-2025 for meetings with Syrian ministers, marking the first such outreach since al-Sharaa assumed office as president.
Regional developments
The meeting is also significant as it comes amid growing differences between Saudi Arabia and the UAE over Yemen. In December, Saudi forces struck an Emirati shipment of weapons and equipment meant for the Southern Transitional Council at the Mukalla port and backed an offensive that later led to the UAE’s withdrawal from Yemen.
In recent months, Saudi Arabia has moved closer to Pakistan and Turkiye on key West Asia issues, while the UAE has strengthened its ties with Israel.
Palestine on the agenda?
Palestine’s Foreign Minister, Dr Varsen Aghabekian Shahin, welcomed the India-Arab Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and described it as an important platform. She said it would bring India and Arab countries together to discuss several areas of interest, including the situation in Palestine.
“This is an important forum because it brings India and the Arab countries together, where there will be discussion on areas of interest, one of which would be the situation in Palestine," Shahin was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. She said India is an important player and that different aspects of the conflict would be discussed.
Shahin added that India is well placed to play a role because it is a friend of both Israel and the Palestinians and believes in international law. She said Israel is legitimate and recognised by the state of Palestine, and that India can help in efforts to legitimise Palestine.
Handpicked stories, in your inbox
