Qatar, Saudi Arabia launch joint aid initiative for Syria with UN support

In a significant move to bolster public sector resilience in war-torn Syria, Qatar and Saudi Arabia have announced a joint $89 million aid initiative in partnership with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), aimed at sustaining essential public services across the country.

The three-month assistance package, unveiled in a joint statement on September 24, is funded by the Qatar Fund for Development and the Saudi Fund for Development. The initiative will focus on covering a portion of salaries for Syrian government employees to help ensure the continuity of core public services, such as healthcare, education, and basic municipal functions, Al Arabiya reports.

This latest aid effort underscores a growing willingness among Gulf states to re-engage with Syria on humanitarian and development fronts, following over a decade of conflict that has devastated the country’s infrastructure and economy.

The joint support builds on previous commitments by both countries. In May, Saudi Arabia confirmed plans — alongside Qatar — to contribute financial assistance specifically aimed at supporting the salaries of Syrian state workers. The initiative followed an earlier contribution in April, when the two Gulf nations provided approximately $15 million to help Syria settle outstanding arrears with the World Bank.

By Vafa Guliyeva