Tartus Governor Meets DP World CEO to Advance Port Development Plans

Coordination Meeting Between the Governorate and the New Operator

Tartus Governor Ahmad al-Shami met with Fahad al-Banna, CEO of DP World, to discuss pathways for developing Tartus port and improving its operational performance. The meeting, announced by the Tartus Governorate through its official channels on Thursday, 7 May 2025, focused on prospects for joint cooperation between the two sides.

The two officials reviewed future plans for modernising the port's infrastructure and upgrading its operational frameworks, with the aim of consolidating Tartus port's position as a strategic commercial gateway on the Mediterranean.

Priorities for the Upcoming Work Programme

The two sides discussed the work programme planned for the next phase, which centres on three main priorities:

• Adopting sustainability standards across port operations
• Improving resource consumption efficiency within the facility
• Removing administrative and technical obstacles to the implementation of development plans

Governor al-Shami expressed the governorate's full support for the project and directed that all impediments to the execution of development plans be cleared, in order to maximise the port's developmental and economic contribution.

Background: The Concession Agreement

In July 2025, DP World signed a 30-year concession agreement with Syria's General Authority for Land and Sea Ports to develop and operate Tartus port under a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model, with a total investment value of 800 million US dollars. The agreement was signed in Damascus in the presence of Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa.

In November 2025, the General Authority for Land and Sea Ports announced that DP World had formally commenced operations at the port following an official handover. The project is considered one of the largest foreign investments in Syria's logistics sector in recent years.

Development Scope and Implementation Phases

The first phase of the development programme covers a range of foundational works, including:

• A comprehensive assessment of existing infrastructure, equipment, berths, and yards
• Deepening of navigation channels, basins, and berths
• Replacement and modernisation of cargo-handling equipment
• Integration of advanced digital port management systems
• Training programmes for national staff to raise operational efficiency to international standards

The total investment is structured across three consecutive phases: an initial phase of 200 million dollars over four years, followed by a second phase of equal value, and a third phase worth 400 million dollars.

Strategic Significance of Tartus Port

Tartus port occupies a pivotal geographic position on Syria's Mediterranean coast, making it the country's second-largest port and a key maritime gateway linking trade routes between Europe, the Levant, and North Africa. DP World, which operates in more than 75 countries and handles approximately 9.2 percent of global container traffic, aims to transform the port into an integrated logistics hub in the Eastern Mediterranean, supporting both regional and international trade flows.