Syria and the UAE discuss road and railway reconstruction projects

Meeting Agenda and Key Topics

Syria's Minister of Transport, Dr. Yaarab Badr, held a meeting at the ministry's headquarters in Damascus with the UAE Ambassador to Syria, Hamad Rashid bin Alwan Al Habsi. The two sides discussed avenues for strengthening bilateral cooperation across the transport sector, covering road and railway projects, digital transformation, vehicle registration services, technical inspection and freight transport.

The meeting also reviewed the current state of Syria's transport sector and plans for its development through partnerships with international donor organisations, with the aim of improving infrastructure and raising the quality of services available to citizens.

Road Rebuilding Projects

Minister Badr confirmed that the ministry is working to launch projects for the rehabilitation and expansion of several key roads, with the Damascus-Palmyra-Deir ez-Zor highway at the top of the list. He added that the ministry is accelerating the issuance of international tenders for expansion and repair works, in support of economic development and the enhancement of transport and trade flows.

The minister noted that efforts are focused on practical steps to expedite infrastructure delivery, in line with presidential directives to allocate funding within the 2026 general budget for the rehabilitation, development and expansion of roads across most Syrian governorates, as part of a three-year programme.

Railway Sector and World Bank Financing

On the railway file, Minister Badr disclosed that the ministry is cooperating with the World Bank to secure a dedicated grant for the development and rehabilitation of the railway sector, which he described as a vital pillar of economic recovery. He also called on specialised Emirati companies to expand cooperation and exchange expertise with their Syrian counterparts, particularly in transport infrastructure and digital transformation.

Digital Transformation and Vehicle Services

The two sides discussed the modernisation of vehicle registration and technical inspection services for trucks and other vehicles, as well as the broader adoption of smart applications to streamline administrative procedures and improve institutional performance. Ambassador Al Habsi expressed the UAE's readiness to provide support and expertise in digitalisation, including vehicle registration systems, technical inspection, driving tests and electronic services related to vehicle transactions.

UAE Position and Shared Prospects

The UAE Ambassador affirmed his country's willingness to contribute concretely to the development of Syria's transport sector and the improvement of its service efficiency, noting that cooperation on digitalisation represents a shared priority on which both sides can build in the coming period.