The UAE is boosting its investments in Syria's reconstruction with real estate and port projects.

The UAE's Growing Presence in Syria

The United Arab Emirates is steadily expanding its investment footprint in Syria, positioning itself for a larger role in shaping the country's economic future and regional orientation. Abu Dhabi views post-Assad Syria as a strategic arena through which it can extend its influence, strengthen trade networks beyond the Strait of Hormuz, and secure a prominent place in the emerging regional order following the retreat of Iranian power.

Emirati engagement in Syria has become part of a broader geopolitical competition with regional powers, principally Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Qatar, over the future political and economic direction of the country.

A Shifting Diplomatic Posture

The UAE's role in Syria since 2011 has been the most flexible and adaptive among the six Gulf Cooperation Council states. While Qatar and Kuwait maintained a policy of isolating Damascus under Assad, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia gradually moved after 2020 toward cautious engagement aimed at managing security risks, and Oman largely preserved its traditional stance of neutrality toward de facto authorities.

The Emirati approach, by contrast, evolved considerably over time. Abu Dhabi initially backed the Syrian opposition and called for Assad's removal, before gradually repositioning itself, endorsing Russian military intervention as a counterterrorism necessity, and resuming diplomatic contact with Damascus. Emirati diplomacy also played a direct and indirect role in Syria's return to the Arab League.

Following the collapse of the Assad regime, the UAE adapted once more, initially approaching the new Damascus leadership with caution before ultimately choosing to extend diplomatic and economic support to the transitional government.

Major Emirati Investment Commitments

The clearest signal of this shift came with the announcement of large-scale Emirati investments in Syria. Emaar Properties announced plans to invest approximately $11 billion in Damascus and its surrounding areas, alongside up to $7 billion in projects along the Syrian coast, as part of an overall investment package estimated at around $18 billion.

In July 2025, DP World signed a 30-year concession agreement with Syria's General Authority for Land and Sea Ports, committing $800 million to develop and operate the Port of Tartus, the first major agreement concluded by the Syrian transitional authorities. The company formally commenced operations at the port in November 2025.

• $11 billion for projects in Damascus and its surroundings (Emaar Properties)
• $5 to $7 billion for projects along the Syrian coast (Emaar Properties)
• $800 million for a 30-year concession to develop the Port of Tartus (DP World)

Syrian Ports in the Strategic Calculus

The strategic value of Syrian ports became particularly evident following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, especially as Iraq began using Syrian infrastructure, including the Port of Baniyas, as an alternative export route to European markets. The UAE views the Syrian coast as part of a broader regional connectivity strategy aimed at hedging against maritime vulnerabilities in the Gulf.

The UAE has spent years expanding its influence across maritime infrastructure, port chains, and logistics networks throughout the Middle East and the Horn of Africa, and is now actively seeking to integrate Syria into this strategic network. Non-oil trade between the two countries reached a record $1.4 billion in 2025, reflecting a year-on-year increase of more than 132 percent.

The Egypt Model and the Horizon of Influence

Analysts note that the Emirati investment approach in Syria closely resembles the UAE's earlier economic strategy in Egypt, where Gulf capital served not only as a tool for economic stabilization but also as a mechanism for expanding long-term political influence. Emaar Properties alone has invested more than $18 billion in Egypt, a precedent Abu Dhabi appears to regard as a template for its Syrian engagement.

The timing of these investments reflects growing confidence in the Syrian transitional government, amid tangible progress on integrating the Syrian Democratic Forces into the formal security structure and increasing regional and international recognition of Damascus's capacity to maintain stability and pursue a coherent economic and political trajectory.