Saudi Arabia intensifies its presence in Syria
Syria and Saudi Arabia are intensifying their bilateral relations. In this regard, both nations have signed 47 agreements worth more than 20 billion riyals (4.665 billion euros).
As part of this dynamic, a Saudi delegation led by Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih visited Syria prior to the ‘Syrian-Saudi Investment Forum 2025’, under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, symbolising a turning point in economic relations between the two Arab countries.
Syria, which has just emerged from a long civil war, is in urgent need of reconstruction, according to various analysts, such as economic expert Dr Firas Haddad. This presents a very attractive investment opportunity, and Haddad insisted that it is important to receive this support for the welfare state.
According to experts, this meeting marks a further step in Saudi Arabia's efforts to dispel Iranian influence in Syrian territory and reintegrate Syria into the Arab world following its re-entry into the Arab League.
According to Alsharq Bloomberg charts, from 2019 to 2023, Syrian investment in Riyadh is estimated at approximately 930 million dollars. The reason for the high investment figures is due to the high migration rates of the Syrian population.
For its part, Saudi Arabia intends to resume its investments in Damascus with approximately 4 billion dollars after the suspension of Saudi ventures in Syria for 12 years.
In addition, according to Minister Al-Falih, they intend to contribute to the agriculture, health, education, construction, real estate, ICT, energy, trade and manufacturing sectors.
The forum was attended by public and private entities from both countries, and more than 500 Saudi businesspeople expressed interest in entering the Syrian market, thus marking the beginning of a new economic era. Al-Falih explained that this meeting ‘reaffirms Saudi Arabia's support for Syria's recovery and development process.’
According to Sudafax, the agreements were solidified with the ‘laying of the foundation stone’ for the future new Al-Jawhara tower in Damascus. This building is part of Saudi Arabia's investment plans, as is the Fayhaa White Cement factory project in the industrial city of Adra.
The Crown Prince also expressed his desire to establish a Saudi-Syrian Business Council headed by ACWA Power President Mohamed Abunayan to strengthen both trade and investment cooperation.
Among the Saudi companies that have signed million-dollar investment contracts is Beit Al Ibaa Company, which plans to build a residential complex alongside a commercial complex in the Syrian town of Homs.
Also included are STC and Elm, which will develop digital and technological facilities, and the Saudi Tadawul Group, which signed a deal in the data and finance sector.
In addition, other agreements were signed, such as one in the aviation sector between Syrian Civil Aviation and the Saudi Airports Company, and one on cybersecurity between the Syrian Ministry of Communications and a specialised Saudi company.
Although Syria and Saudi Arabia have been returning to friendly relations in recent years, according to Radio France Internationale, the international community still has differing opinions depending on the country.
History of relations between Saudi Arabia and Syria
The two Arab countries share a long and vast political and economic history marked by moments of cooperation and others of disagreement shaped by the regimes of each era.
The positions of the nations have not depended solely on the parties involved, but have also been influenced by the policies of third parties. Changes in the relationship between these two countries have been both a cause and a consequence of foreign policy practices in other territories.
According to Alkhaleej online, ‘since Hafez Al-Assad came to power, the relationship between Riyadh and Damascus has been characterised by consensus on numerous regional issues. Both sides have forged an alliance based on Arab solidarity and national issues.’
Although their cooperation dates back a long time, according to Alshar Al Awsat, Saudi Arabia ‘has been Syria's greatest defender’ throughout modern history. Abdul Aziz Bin Abdul Rahman, the first king and founder of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, was proud to have Syrian people living in his territory.
Their relationship was so close that, in 1928, the Syrians themselves offered him the opportunity to make his son king of Syria. He declined the offer and always sent them his support, as did his heirs, even after the 1960s, the era of the Baath Party regime in Syria and Iraq.
Both countries also expressed their appreciation from the moment the Syrian Republic was proclaimed. Saeed Al-Tallawi recounted in his book ‘How Syria Achieved Independence’ that the first president of the then newly liberated nation, Shukri Al-Kuwatli, was invited to Saudi Arabia in 1945 by King Abdulaziz Al-Saud.
In the 1950s, after years of good relations with the Al-Kuwatli regime (which was even supported during a military coup), once he ceded his mandate to the Egyptian Gamal Abdel Nasser in order to unify a United Arab Republic, things took a turn for the worse because he did not trust his intentions in the region.
Unfortunately for both leaders, the project that unified Egypt and Syria as a single nation in 1958 lasted only three years.
The 1960s are a black mark on the history of relations between Saudi Arabia and Syria. Or rather, it was a time when the Republic did not get along with most countries in the region.
What happened was that, in March 1963, the Baath Party regime was born. Its ideology was very similar to that of Nasser, as it criticised the nationalism of Arab countries, which it believed was promoted by Western imperialism.
The situation only worsened in 1966, when the party's power struggles led to the events of 23 February. General Salah Al-Jadid carried out a coup d'état and came to power. As a result, Syria became the black sheep of the region for, according to Snacksyrian, branding the Syrian regimes as backward.
The tension with Damascus was palpable at the time, but the situation gradually eased until it improved in the 1970s when Hafez Al-Assad became president.
Lebanese historian Kamal Dib explained in his book Syria in History that Assad ordered the repair of the Tapline oil pipeline that transports oil from Saudi Arabia through Syria. Of course, in gratitude, the Saudis increased Syrian profits.
Oil was also key during the October War of 1973, a military conflict in which the Republic was embroiled against Israel. Saudi Arabia took advantage of its status as an oil power and suspended exports as a gesture of support. And it did not stop there, as it even sent military units to fight in the Golan Heights.
But this historical period had a problem within the region: the Lebanese war. This conflict, known as the Two-Year War, led to the start of a Saudi campaign determined to stop it. At the Riyadh Summit, it was agreed that Syrian intervention in Lebanon was possible.
In the 1980s, another conflict arose: the Iran-Iraq War between 1980 and 1988. Syria sided with Tehran, while Riyadh leaned towards Baghdad.
However, despite each side supporting a different camp, according to the Hormoon report, ‘the relationship continued thanks to the pragmatism of Hafez Al-Assad and the flexibility of the Saudis’.
Although, in 1982, there was a certain rift due to the refusal of the Syrians and Palestinians to accept the peace initiative proposed by Saudi Prince Fahd during the Fez conference that year.
The 1990s did not begin calmly, as in 1991 Kuwait was invaded by Iraq because of its oil reserves. Riyadh and Damascus agreed on their stance towards Saddam Hussein to the point where they teamed up with other countries to drive him out of Kuwait. In the process, Syrian military units were sent to Saudi Arabia.
The beginning of the 21st century repeated the pattern of the last decade of the 20th century. In 2003, the United States, together with an international coalition it led, decided to invade Iraq through aerial bombardment.
According to Alkhaleej Online and Snacksyrian, Damascus was strongly opposed to this occupation, while the Saudis were in favour. However, according to the Homroom report, Hafez Al-Assad seized the moment and symbolically supported the coalition, ‘while Saudi Arabia contributed financially and logistically.’
Two years later, Lebanon once again became a source of dispute between the two nations. The then Lebanese Prime Minister, Rafik Hariri, was assassinated. As a result, Syria withdrew its troops and another era of Syrian-Saudi estrangement began.
Although President Bashar Al-Assad had visited King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz in 2006 in a spirit of peace and understanding, the following year, Syrian Vice President Faouk Al-Sharaa criticised Riyadh's refusal to coordinate efforts with Damascus and Cairo.
In response, Saudi Arabia accused Sharaa of being responsible for undermining the sense of unity in the region and, above all, worsening Syrian-Saudi relations.
Tensions did not dissipate until 2009, when the Doha Agreement was signed at the Kuwait Summit on issues that had most concerned them, including Lebanon. The good relations were evident when Damascus was declared innocent of the assassination of the Lebanese prime minister and the leaders of both nations held face-to-face meetings.
The consensus lasted only a few years, as civil war broke out in Syria in 2011, with President Bashar Al-Assad carrying out a brutal crackdown on opponents. In response to these events, Saudi Arabia came out strongly against the Assad regime, to the point that it was one of the first countries to call for the suspension of Syria's membership in the Arab League.
Since then, relations have been frozen because the Saudi embassy in Damascus was closed and the Syrian ambassador was expelled from Riyadh.
There were glimmers of reconciliation in 2018 that came to nothing, and others in 2021 when Syrian Tourism Minister Mohamed Rami Martini attended a meeting of the World Tourism Organisation's Middle East Committee scheduled by Saudi Arabia.
After the fall of Bashar Al-Assad, the gradual growth of talks between the two nations increased exponentially, to the point that, in 2025, Saudi Arabia asked Donald Trump to lift sanctions on Syria. And, indeed, the US president did so months later.
According to recent events, the two countries are expected to be back on good terms in the near future, which will benefit Syria because it needs to rebuild after a long period of war that has led to a deep crisis, and the Saudi kingdom has sufficient financial muscle to contribute significantly to Syrian reconstruction.
Relations are based on trust, collaboration and working together to address problems and misunderstandings. There may be periods of conflict, but the important thing, when it comes to nations, is that efforts to restore good relations do not cease.