Saudi Arabia and Qatar have announced joint financial support for Syria’s public sector amid deepening ties with Damascus.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan visited Damascus on Saturday, where he met Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa and Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani. The visit marked a significant step in Riyadh’s effort to reintegrate Syria into regional politics and economics.
During a joint press conference with his Syrian counterpart, Prince Faisal said: “We will provide joint financial support with Qatar to employees in the Syrian public sector.”
In a separate statement, the Saudi minister said: “We are pleased to be in Damascus today, where we conveyed the greetings of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown Prince to President Ahmad Al-Sharaa, along with their wishes for Syria to achieve greater security, stability, and prosperity.”
He expressed the Kingdom’s aspiration to see Syria restored to its regional role. “We reaffirm the Kingdom’s desire to strengthen the partnership with our brothers in Syria in a way that contributes to consolidating stability and supporting opportunities for economic revival,” he said.
The Saudi delegation included high-level officials such as Royal Court Advisor Mohammed bin Mazyad Al-Tuwaijri, Deputy Minister of Finance Abdulmohsen bin Saad Al-Khalaf, and others from various economic sectors. Prince Faisal also visited the Umayyad Mosque.
According to a joint Saudi-Qatari statement, the financial aid follows their earlier contribution to covering Syria’s $15 million arrears at the World Bank Group.
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The Saudi minister praised the recent lifting of sanctions by the U.S., and a similar move by the UK and EU. “These steps will enhance the Syrian people’s confidence in their future,” he said. “The lifting of these obstacles will help restart the Syrian economy, which has been paralysed for decades.”
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani welcomed the visit, describing it as a “significant step” toward building a sustainable economic partnership. “Our choice in Syria is economic sovereignty, and the strength of our partnership with Saudi Arabia lies in shared interests,” he said.
Shaibani added that Syria had recently signed agreements with international firms to provide gas for electricity production. On Thursday, Turkish conglomerates Kalyon Holding and Cengiz Holding, Qatar-based UCC, and US-based Power International signed a $7 billion energy investment agreement for Syria.
“Reconstruction will not be imposed from the outside, but by the Syrian people themselves,” said Shaibani. “We welcome any contribution in this regard.”
Prince Faisal reaffirmed the Kingdom’s long-term support: “The Kingdom will remain at the forefront of nations standing by Syria in its journey of reconstruction and economic recovery.”
He also noted growing interest from Saudi investors. “There is a clear desire from investors in the Kingdom to take advantage of these opportunities in cooperation with our brothers in Syria, in a way that enhances the shared interests of both countries,” he said.
The visit comes amid a growing regional shift towards engagement with Syria, following the collapse of the Baath regime in December. Bashar al-Assad, who ruled Syria for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia. President Ahmad Al-Sharaa, who led anti-regime forces, assumed office in a transitional government in January.
More Saudi economic delegations are expected in Damascus in the coming days.
