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The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced in an official statement the termination of the duties of its Consul General in Dubai, Ziad Zahreddine, effective Sept. 20, 2025, under Decision No. (209).
The ministry emphasized that his recent statements do not reflect the official stance or policies of the Syrian state.
According to the statement, Zahreddine has been transferred from his position to the ministry’s central administration in Damascus.
The ministry stressed that his remarks represented “personal opinions inconsistent with diplomatic norms and the ethics of consular work.”
The ministry affirmed that the Syrian Consulate General in Dubai will continue providing consular services to Syrian citizens and expatriates under the supervision of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates in Damascus.
The statement further underscored Syria’s full commitment to the laws and regulations of the United Arab Emirates and to the provisions of the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.
The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed its keenness to maintain cooperation with the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs within the framework of mutual respect and national sovereignty.
Zahreddine announced his defection from the Syrian regime on Sunday in a recorded video statement.
Zahreddine declared that his decision came in protest against what he described as a “campaign of genocide.”
His statement marks the first public defection by a Syrian diplomat in years .
In the video, Zahreddine said his resignation was an act of conscience, emphasizing that he could no longer remain silent “in the face of atrocities committed against innocent civilians.”
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