Syrian President Addresses Regional Tensions and Internal Stability

Tarnished by As-Suwayda Unrest, Syria’s Leader Seeks Diplomatic Shields

Syrian interim President Ahmed Al-Shara has publicly acknowledged the volatile situation in As-Suwayda, extending gratitude to Arab mediators, Turkey, and the United States. His remarks, delivered on the morning of the 17th of Tammuulio, suggest a strategic effort to counterbalance perceived Israeli destabilization attempts.

Regional Mediators and Druze Diplomacy

The president’s appeal for international deterrence is understandable, given the risk of wider regional intervention that could fracture Syria. More notably, Shara also recognized the crucial role of Druze leader Walid Jumblatt. Jumblatt‘s interventions reportedly de-escalated tensions within the Druze community, smoothing over concerns about the new Syrian regime’s relationship with religious minorities and its potential fallout in Lebanon.

Druze Spiritual Leaders’ Concerns

A significant undercurrent to these developments is the expressed apprehension by Druze spiritual leaders in As-Suwayda. They reportedly fear the new political order may marginalize religious minorities, potentially leading to an increased reliance on external support, including from Israel. The backing of Lebanese Druze spiritual figures, such as Sheikh Al-Aql Sami Abi Al-Muna, is seen as a vital display of wisdom amid a critical juncture for both Syria and Lebanon.

Jumblatt’s Proactive Engagement

A key indicator of Jumblatt‘s involvement was his early visit to Syrian authorities, leading a Druze delegation. This visit aimed to signal support and encourage the integration of Druze concerns. However, the Syrian administration has yet to fully address security issues that have repeatedly surfaced, mirroring incidents from April. The president’s reassurances to minorities have lacked consistent practical application, evidenced by a perceived lack of solidarity following a church bombing in Damascus, a situation where a visit from Shara to the Orthodox Patriarch was deemed necessary.

Beyond Israel: A Complex Geopolitical Landscape

The president’s ability to secure Syria against external influence, particularly Israel, is a focal point. The United States’ capacity to moderate such pressures is also highlighted, drawing parallels to its efforts to curb conflict in the region. Israel, through Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has signaled its intent to maintain influence, specifically concerning weapons deployment south of Damascus. Syria, however, presents a complex, multi-nation context requiring a more profound and nuanced strategy than currently articulated.

The emergence of a “new Syria” foundation demands an inclusive approach, moving beyond symbolic gestures like appointing ministers to non-essential roles across different sects. This is vital for ensuring true equality and addressing the deep-seated concerns of its diverse populace.

Fortifying Lebanon Amid Syrian Fallout

Walid Jumblatt‘s parallel engagement with Sunni leaders in Lebanon underscores an effort to shield the country from the Syrian crisis’s repercussions. Some observers note a deficit in the Lebanese state’s capacity to decisively protect its citizens and address their anxieties. The unfolding events in Syria, while sparking legitimate concerns, have also been politicized by some.

A critical challenge for the state is to avoid inflammatory rhetoric and instead focus on unifying national interests. Ignoring provocative public statements could be misconstrued as weakness, potentially signaling a negative perception of the state’s overall leadership amidst growing anxieties about regional instability.

UAE Makes Global History: AI Now Drafts Nation’s Multi-Billion Dollar Budget

Abu Dhabi, UAE – In a move that redefines public finance and sets a global precedent, the United Arab Emirates has officially integrated Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the readiness of its federal budget.This groundbreaking initiative, moving beyond traditional estimations and intuitive decision-making, marks a notable conceptual shift towards data-driven governance and financial anticipation.

The UAE Ministry of Finance, after a accomplished experimental phase with the 2024 budget, has now fully embraced AI for the 2025 budget cycle and launched the aspiring “Smart Budget Course 2027-2029.” This pioneering federal program, the frist of its kind worldwide, is entirely powered by AI and predictive analytics. The four-year budget, valued at approximately $245 billion, will leverage elegant algorithms for resource allocation, performance evaluation, and ensuring alignment with the nation’s strategic priorities.

This transformative leap was underscored by the Ministry’s association of the “National financial Intelligence Forum” in May 2025. The forum convened to forge an integrated plan across six critical axes: the future vision of government finance, smart operations, data governance, infrastructure, capacity building, and the Ministry’s role as a future-oriented institution. The Ministry emphasized that this deep integration of AI aims not only to expedite procedures but to fundamentally reshape the culture of financial decision-making across the government.

Tangible Results: Efficiency soars,Delays Vanish

The impact of AI adoption is already evident. The Ministry of Finance reports that during the experimental stage, AI contributed to a remarkable 20% improvement in resource allocation efficiency. Furthermore, the gap between estimated and actual budget implementation has been reduced by 12%.The speed of financial operations has also seen dramatic acceleration. Budget preparation procedures have been fast-tracked by 30%, and the time required for financial decision-making in some government agencies has been slashed from weeks to mere days. Looking ahead, the UAE anticipates a further streamlining of the budget preparation process, reducing the number of steps from 50 to just 10. Similarly, the government procurement cycle is expected to shrink from 60 days to under 6 minutes.

Citizen-Centric Finance and Unprecedented Transparency

Beyond operational efficiencies, the UAE’s AI-driven budget offers enhanced transparency and accountability. The system analyzes citizen demand for services and benchmarks it against the actual performance of government entities, directly linking budget allocation to tangible results. This approach fosters a more responsive and transparent government.

The integration of AI is further bolstered by the “Emirates Data” system, a sophisticated government database fed with data from over 30 federal entities, recognized as one of the most advanced in the region.

Global Recognition and Future-Proofing

The Ministry of Finance’s pioneering work has garnered international acclaim, evidenced by its win of the “Innovating for Impact” award at the AI FOR SUMMIT 2025 in Geneva. This recognition solidifies the UAE’s leadership in leveraging AI for financial policy advancement.

Acknowledging the inherent challenges, the UAE is proactively addressing the need for algorithmic neutrality and enhancing human expertise in data analysis and predictive tool utilization. Initiatives like “Government Programmer” and “AI for all” are actively underway to upskill government cadres.Concurrently,the nation is collaborating with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Growth (OECD) to develop robust national data governance legislation.

A Bold Vision for Financial Management

the UAE’s bold embrace of AI in the critical process of budget preparation signifies more than a technical upgrade; it represents a cultural paradigm shift. It moves government financial management from a logic of estimation to one of anticipation, and from bureaucracy to agility.

The UAE’s experience in integrating AI into its public budget serves as a pioneering model for Arab nations and the global community. This adoption signals a profound commitment to creating more efficient, reality-aligned, and responsive public policies capable of swiftly addressing evolving challenges.

Jaber Al-Shuaibi is an Emirati writer and researcher.**