Syria attracts nearly $16 billion in investment six months after Assad’s fall

Six months after the fall of Bashar Al Assad, Syria’s transitional government under President Ahmed Al Sharaa has begun to attract significant foreign investment and aid, marking the country’s re-entry into the global economic landscape.

According to government sources and regional analysts, Syria has secured nearly $16 billion in pledged investment, infrastructure deals, and direct financial support since December, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

The economic shift follows sweeping diplomatic outreach, including a landmark meeting between President Al Sharaa and US President Donald Trump in Riyadh earlier this year. The talks led to the easing of US sanctions, with the Treasury Department issuing a general licence authorising transactions with Syria’s new government and state-run entities.

“The US decision to suspend sanctions – although temporary – provided a boost to Al Sharaa's efforts, paving the way for the Europeans to follow suit. Syria is now beginning to see some resources flow in,” said Mona Yacoubian, senior adviser at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.

In the wake of the sanctions relief, Gulf countries moved quickly to forge economic ties. The UAE’s DP World signed an $800 million agreement to develop and operate the port of Tartus. Saudi Arabia and Qatar have jointly pledged public salary support, while additional aid from European and Asian sources has brought total commitments close to $16 billion, Syrian officials say.

"Ahmed Al Shara's administration has focused on securing regional and international legitimacy as a means to gain sanctions relief, viewing diplomatic normalisation as essential to reviving Syria’s devastated economy," said Sanam Vakhil of Chatham House.

Despite the progress, skepticism remains within the international community. “Sanctions can be reimposed – this is not a one-way street… It gives us a platform for dialogue with the Syrian leadership, and a basis for holding them accountable,” noted Olof Skoog, deputy secretary general for political affairs at the European External Action Service.

At home, the benefits are yet to be fully realised. “Economically, nothing has changed. People are still tired, salaries are low, there’s no money in the country, and there’s no electricity,” said a doctor in Damascus. Still, Amr Alhamad, a returning Syrian lawyer, remains hopeful: “We’ll begin to see change. Not just economic reform, but also progress towards the rule of law.”

By Vafa Guliyeva