On May 13, Muhammad Ali, the de-facto Abkhazian Ambassador to Syria, met with Marwan Al-Halabi, Syria’s Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, to discuss advancing academic cooperation between Abkhazia and Syria and the potential signing of an agreement between Abkhazian State University and the University of Damascus.

During the meeting, Muhammad Ali stated that, for the second consecutive year, separatist Abkhazia had welcomed students from Syria to study at Abkhazian State University and confirmed that preparations were underway to receive another group for the 2025–2026 academic year. He emphasized the importance of expanding these academic ties through formal agreements between higher education institutions of both countries.

In response, Marwan Al-Halabi expressed the Syrian Ministry’s interest in deepening cooperation with Abkhazia in scientific and educational fields. He highlighted the significance of scholarship programs, academic exchanges, and enhancing scientific capacity. Al-Halabi acknowledged existing challenges in the sector but expressed optimism that the next stage of higher education development would yield significant accomplishments.

Notably, in May 2018, Syria formally recognized Abkhazia’s independence, becoming the fifth UN member state to do so. High-level diplomatic engagements have occurred between Abkhazia and Syria. In 2021, discussions underscored the importance of the Abkhazian embassy in Damascus in resolving consular issues and addressing the concerns of the Abkhaz-Abaza and Circassian diaspora communities in Syria and the broader Middle East.