Rebuilding Syria News & Updates

Syria's finance minister and central bank governor met the World Bank Group president to review financing and projects. The meeting covered a Damascus office due in January.

Syria's civil aviation authority announced a plan to convert Palmyra airport to civil use for tourism. Its head said service could start within 6 months to a year.

Finance Minister Barnieh and the Islamic Development Bank president discussed a proposal to settle outstanding obligations, in support of resumed infrastructure financing in Syria.

UN deputy envoy Claudio Cordone told the Security Council of EUR 620 million in announced EU support and a USD 175 million World Bank approval for agriculture.

Idlib's governor opened four health centers in Sheikh Idris, Kafr Amim, Tal al-Tuqan and Abu al-Zuhur, equipped with support from UNICEF, Insan Charity and MSF.

Syria's Central Bank executed its first documentary credit in 14 years for the Syrian Petroleum Company, with a major US bank, to finance a petroleum products supply deal.

Communications Minister Abdulsalam Haykal and Meta regional president Fares Akkad discussed restoring commercial services, including advertising tools and business services.

Communications Minister Abdulsalam Haykal said Zain will begin work in Syria within days. An academic said success depends on addressing infrastructure gaps.

The Ministry of Economy and Industry has opened subscriptions in the Deir ez-Zor Industrial City, offering over 140 hectares of plots from $25 per square meter in cash.

The Syrian Investment Authority and the Ministry of Local Administration and Environment agreed in Damascus to form a group to collect data for the investment map.

The Central Bank of Syria has launched a two-year technical assistance programme with France covering banking supervision, monetary policy and liquidity management.

Executives from Wyndham, Accor and Minor Hotels describe hotel projects under preparation in Syria, and UAE developer Arada announces a project worth about $7 billion.

Syria's Local Administration Ministry reviewed September activities, including climate and digital projects, a Raqqa industrial zone and international rebuilding cooperation.

Damascus Governorate formally approved starting to issue building and restoration licences in Yarmouk Camp under announced technical rules, ahead of residents' return.

As President al-Sharaa visits Riyadh, the Elaf fund has begun its first investment at Aleppo International Airport, and a finance professor outlines the conditions for growth.

Syria's Investment Authority held an extended meeting with representatives from 26 public bodies to advance its one stop shop and investor services.

Idlib's governor and Syria's justice minister reviewed plans to rehabilitate courthouses in Idlib and Maarat al-Numan and speed up activation of peace courts.

Syria's Minister of Public Works and Housing Mustafa Abdul Razzaq stated the government relies on the private sector to execute 70 to 80% of urban projects.

Syria signed a framework agreement with UAE developer Eagle Hills to build large housing and tourism projects in Damascus and Latakia.

Syria's Finance Minister met a World Bank MIGA delegation to discuss offering investment risk guarantees aimed at boosting the business climate.

Syria's Investment Authority and UNDP met in Damascus to discuss development priorities, focusing on support for the national textile industry.

Syria's housing and tourism ministries signed a framework agreement with UAE's Eagle Hills to develop Damascus Hills and a Latakia tourism project.

Latakia port recorded over 3.7 million tons of cargo and received 532 vessels by the end of September 2025, with round-the-clock operations.

Syria's electricity company details the technical status of three strategic power plants in Rif Dimashq and announces contracts and MoUs to integrate 750 MW of wind and 1,000 MW of solar power.

A US Treasury banking roundtable in New York brought together Syrian and American financial officials to discuss reconnecting Syria's banking sector to the global system.

Syria's Finance Minister and Central Bank Governor met Mastercard's CEO in New York to discuss developing digital payments and government financial services.

A project to rehabilitate and operate the Al-Muslimiyah cement plant in Aleppo has been launched in cooperation with Turkey's Sanko Group.

Syria's central bank launches a trial phase for international bank cards with payment networks, marked by the first overseas Mastercard purchase in Dubai.

The Technical Services Directorate in Tartus completed maintenance of the Qusaibiya road leading to Shuwaihdat and Ain al-Jash villages in Dreikish.

Syria's Civil Aviation Authority reports new requests from Asian carriers to use Syrian airspace, alongside growing demand from Gulf and regional airlines.

Finance Minister Mohammad Yasser Barnieh told an Abu Dhabi workshop that Syria's economy continues to recover, with a medium-term fiscal framework planned for the 2027 budget.

Japan has removed sanctions on 16 more Syrian entities, including the defense and interior ministries, Syriatel and the Commercial Bank of Syria, to support rebuilding efforts.

Syria's civil aviation authority says restored dense air traffic across Syrian airspace has multiplied aviation sector revenues four to five times.

The Euphrates Dam Authority increases released water to 1200 cubic meters per second and empties 6 million cubic meters of storage ahead of autumn and winter.

Syria's Local Administration Ministry closed its participation in Mosiad Expo 2026 in Istanbul, presenting investment opportunities in seven industrial zones as part of a wider plan.

Syria's international freight shipping union held its 2026 annual meeting in Damascus, signing MoUs with Jordan and Iraq to boost regional transport cooperation.

Syria's Investment Authority and Aleppo governorate launched the first project under the new real estate development system, amid $800 million in tracked projects.

Iraq and Syria agreed on new border measures including electronic customs data exchange and a 100-dunam expansion of the Rabia crossing.

Syria's central bank governor expects over $1 billion in foreign capital to establish new banks, citing legal protections for investors.

Banking ties between Jordan and Syria are expanding as restrictions ease, with Jordanian banks offering transfer and trade finance channels.

Syria's economic relations with Jordan, Iraq and Lebanon are expanding through agreements on energy, transport and trade, with Jordan trade tripling to $330 million.

Daraa province is mapping unlicensed wells and studying which ones can be linked to drinking water networks after they strained groundwater reserves.

FlyDar has obtained its Air Operator Certificate, becoming the first Syrian private airline licensed after liberation, based at Damascus International Airport.

Syria's Investment Authority discussed with investors and a delegation from China's ZXAUTO the prospects of car manufacturing and assembly projects in Syria.

Syria's government presented a UN vision shifting from displacement funding to solutions, launching 300 projects to rehabilitate camp areas in Idlib and Aleppo.

Syria's Emergency Minister outlined a plan in New York to end camps through mine clearance, infrastructure rehabilitation and international investment.

Syria's Transport Minister presented a $500 million road rehabilitation plan and a $200 million World Bank rail grant at a Beirut investment forum.

A Lebanese Syrian investment forum opened in Beirut with ministers and nearly 400 business figures discussing cooperation in rebuilding, energy and transport.

Ten months after Syria reconnected to SWIFT, financial experts say the real challenge is rebuilding trust with international correspondent banks, not the technical link itself.

Syria's central bank governor took part in a panel at Jordan's 2026 fintech festival, presenting plans for a national electronic payment system to boost financial inclusion.

The Port of Latakia received 467 ships in the first eight months of 2026, handling a combined cargo weight exceeding 3.3 million tons.

Preliminary rehabilitation works have started at Mezzeh Airport in Damascus, aiming to convert it from a military facility into a civilian airport for private aviation.

Syria's Finance Minister joined a high-level UN roundtable in New York to discuss coordinated support for reforming the country's financial and banking sector.

Syria's General Establishment of Roads signed a contract with a Kuwaiti company to maintain and rehabilitate the Nassib-Damascus highway, a key international transit route.

Syria's central bank governor met Arab banking officials in Amman to discuss forming a Syrian banking association to coordinate the sector.

Syria's Transport Minister discussed investment opportunities in roads, railways and a digital freight platform worth over $500 million with Chinese firms.

King Salman Relief Center signed a program to build the Um Al Bashaer complex in Saraqib, Idlib, offering health and community services to over 100,000 residents.

Emirati businessman Mohamed Al Abbar says Syria investment projects worth about $15 billion will be signed in the first week of October.

Syria's Rebuild 2026 exhibition closed in Damascus with 3,200 contracts and 412 memoranda of understanding worth over $1.756 billion in construction, infrastructure and industry.

Syrian and Iraqi customs officials agreed to electronically link their systems and expand Tanf crossing before reopening it to travelers.

Egypt and Syria agreed on execution mechanisms for economic cooperation, technical working groups, and a joint business forum on trade and investment.

A joint Islamic financing agreement between public and private banks will fund the Mujtahid tunnel, marking a new model for infrastructure financing in Syria.

Qatar's Attia Architecture Group has signed execution contracts for projects in Aleppo and Jaroud, Rif Dimashq, both still awaiting licensing.

Deir ez-Zor launched the Nabd al-Deir campaign to upgrade infrastructure, roads and services, with Governor Ziad al-Ayash attending the launch.

A Syrian delegation in Beirut agreed with Lebanese officials on mutual recognition of conformity certificates to ease bilateral trade.

Syria's central bank governor met a US Treasury delegation to discuss trade financing, correspondent banking, and integration into the international financial system.

Syria's Economy Ministry signed an MoU with Saudi company Golden Buildings to invest in and develop the Deir al-Bashal complex in Banias, Tartus.

Bab al-Hawa border crossing recorded 95,247 commercial trucks carrying over 2.1 million tons of goods and 602,000 travelers in eight months.

Jordan's approval to route gas to Lebanon through Syria could give Damascus transit fees and gas shares, economists say.

SYRIX Jeddah 2026 opened with more than 160 Syrian companies from food, textile, engineering and chemical sectors seeking trade ties with Saudi Arabia.

Syria's civil aviation chief met Saudi firm SAAL's CEO to discuss developing air cargo and logistics cooperation between the two countries.

A Jordan-Lebanon gas agreement routed through Syria revives the Arab Gas Pipeline, opening questions over transit fee revenue for Syria.

Damascus governor and the education minister opened Jawdat Hashemi school after full renovation, part of a wider drive to prepare dozens of schools for the new academic year.

Aleppo province and the Engineers Syndicate agreed to cut design fees 50% for investment and rebuilding projects, and waive fees for destroyed homes.

An economic researcher outlines German investment prospects in Syria after Berlin allocated over 200 million euros for rebuilding support.

About 650 restored schools are back in service in Idlib governorate, SANA reported in September, after 50 more opened under the Wafa li-Idlib campaign.

Syria's Investment Authority and Qatari business figures launched a partnership targeting tourism, energy, real estate and sustainable development.

Syria signed the membership charter of the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO), a step experts say supports telecom and e-government development.

An agreement between Syria's Central Bank and Frankfurt School, backed by KfW, seeks to transfer German banking expertise and support investment inflows.

Germany's GIZ development agency and KfW bank have resumed operations in Syria after a 14-year suspension, following talks on rebuilding and economic recovery projects.

Syria's central bank signs a three-year agreement with Frankfurt University and KfW to develop banking expertise, alongside a roundtable on joint investment.

Germany opened the German House in Damascus, hosting GIZ and KfW, to strengthen development cooperation with Syria through projects worth 337 million euros.

Syria's Energy Ministry met IRENA officials in Abu Dhabi to discuss policy support and capacity building following Syria's accepted membership.

A Syrian customs delegation joined trilateral talks in Ankara with Iraq and Turkey to enhance transport, transit and cross border trade cooperation.

Syria's telecom minister says Saudi investors are committing nearly $1 billion to the Silk Link project, positioning Syria as a regional data corridor.

Syria's Agriculture Ministry signed a deal with the Saudi mission on farm input imports and an agreement with the Agricultural Bank to supply tractors.

Syria's telecom minister signed an agreement with the Digital Cooperation Organization in Riyadh to develop digital infrastructure and exchange technical expertise.

Syria's Sovereign Fund signed a contract with UAE's Aradha Group to develop an integrated city on four million square meters west of Damascus.

Denmark reopened its embassy in Damascus after a 14-year closure, pledging $76 million more this year for early recovery and stability support in Syria.

Syria and Saudi Arabia signed four MoUs covering air, land, rail transport and postal services, alongside a separate deal to rehabilitate an iron and steel plant in Hama.

Thirteen German companies took part in the 63rd Damascus International Fair, following the formation of a new Syrian-German joint economic committee.

Syria's Agriculture Ministry and Agricultural Cooperative Bank signed financing agreements at Damascus expo to support farmers with modern irrigation equipment.

Syrian and Iraqi chambers of commerce signed a memorandum to boost trade exchange and joint investment during the 63rd Damascus International Fair.

Syria's Central Bank confirms the country's first Visa card transaction in Damascus, part of a new electronic payment system approved under Decree 1124.

Damascus Chamber of Commerce chief says removing Syria from the terrorism list restores financial ties, including access to SWIFT.

Syria and Saudi Arabia signed an updated bilateral air transport agreement giving carriers greater flexibility to open new routes and expand flights.

Syrian and Saudi transport ministers signed two memoranda in Damascus to advance road, rail and logistics cooperation.

Turkey's trade minister announced a joint customs committee with Syria and plans to expand border crossings amid growing bilateral trade.

Idlib governorate signed an agreement with a Turkish company to expand Bab al-Hawa Industrial City, attended by economic officials from both sides.

Syria's customs authority chief and a Saudi business delegation discussed developing ports, free zones and dry ports to expand bilateral trade and logistics.