In a move that signals renewed regional interest in rebuilding war-torn Syria, prominent Emirati business magnate Khalaf al-Habtoor has announced plans to invest in the country’s battered economy, focusing on large-scale projects intended to generate jobs and foster long-term recovery. Al-Habtoor, chairman of the United Arab Emirates-based Al Habtoor Group, revealed his intentions on September 9, 2025, after leading an Emirati business delegation on a tour of Damascus and Syria’s coastal region to scout potential investment sites.
Al-Habtoor’s visit comes at a pivotal time for Syria. The country is still reeling from nearly 14 years of civil war, with basic infrastructure in tatters and millions struggling to meet everyday needs. According to The Associated Press, al-Habtoor’s planned ventures include the creation of a nationwide bus network—potentially operating up to 3,000 buses in partnership with the Syrian state—as well as the establishment of expansive car showrooms. These projects, he said, are designed not just to inject capital, but to create sustainable opportunities for Syrians, especially the youth.
“We want to invest in something that will serve people,” al-Habtoor told The Associated Press during his visit. “We don’t want to just construct buildings. A building, you build it and then it’s done — we want to make a long-term investment.”
The scale of the bus network alone is ambitious. Al-Habtoor estimates that the project could generate around 30,000 jobs, a significant figure in a country where unemployment remains rampant, particularly among young people. The car showrooms, too, are intended to provide fresh employment opportunities for a generation that has endured years of conflict and economic hardship.
According to Devdiscourse, al-Habtoor’s business delegation explored a range of potential ventures and met with Syrian officials to discuss collaboration. The emphasis, he said, is on sustainability and building a foundation for economic revival, rather than quick or superficial gains. “Highlighting the economic struggles the country faces, al-Habtoor noted the importance of sustainable investments to spur recovery,” reported Devdiscourse.
The broader context for these investments is a shifting regional landscape. Since the ouster of former President Bashar Assad in December 2024—an event that marked a dramatic turn in Syria’s political fortunes—Gulf nations have been signaling a willingness to participate in the country’s reconstruction. In July 2025, Syria and Saudi Arabia jointly announced 47 investment agreements with a combined value of over $6 billion, underscoring a growing appetite for economic engagement despite the daunting challenges on the ground.
Still, progress has been slow. As The Associated Press points out, Syria continues to grapple with basic shortages: rolling water and electricity cuts are common, and about half the population faces food insecurity. The scale of the task is staggering. Back in 2017, United Nations estimates pegged the cost of rebuilding Syria at a minimum of $250 billion—a figure that some experts now believe could have ballooned to $400 billion. These numbers, almost unfathomable, highlight just how much remains to be done before Syria can hope to return to anything resembling normalcy.
For al-Habtoor and his peers, the risks are considerable, but so are the potential rewards. The country’s strategic location, large population, and pent-up demand for basic goods and services all represent opportunities for those willing to brave the uncertainties of post-war reconstruction. And with Gulf states like the UAE and Saudi Arabia increasingly eager to expand their influence in the Levant, investment in Syria is as much about geopolitics as it is about economics.
Al-Habtoor’s approach, however, appears to be grounded in a desire to make a meaningful impact on ordinary Syrians’ lives. “We want to make a long-term investment,” he reiterated, emphasizing that his projects are designed to serve people rather than simply turn a quick profit. That sentiment is echoed by his focus on sectors—public transportation and automotive sales—that have the potential to generate large numbers of jobs and improve daily life for millions.
The proposed bus network is especially noteworthy. If realized, it would represent one of the largest public transportation initiatives in Syria’s recent history, connecting cities and rural areas and providing much-needed mobility to a population long hampered by the destruction of roads and infrastructure. The creation of 30,000 jobs, as al-Habtoor estimates, could also help stem the tide of emigration that has drained Syria of much of its young talent.
Meanwhile, the car dealership project is tailored to the needs of young Syrians, many of whom have struggled to find work or build careers amid the chaos of war. By focusing on sectors with high employment potential, al-Habtoor hopes to create pathways for economic advancement and help restore some measure of hope to a generation that has known little but conflict.
Yet, as both The Associated Press and Devdiscourse note, the road to recovery is fraught with obstacles. Infrastructure remains in dire condition, with frequent water and electricity outages disrupting everyday life. Food insecurity is widespread, and the specter of renewed violence or political instability is never far away. Even with the influx of Gulf capital, turning investment agreements into tangible improvements for Syrians will require time, patience, and a measure of luck.
There are also questions about the broader implications of Gulf investment in Syria. For some observers, the renewed engagement of states like the UAE and Saudi Arabia is a welcome sign of regional solidarity and a potential lifeline for a country in desperate need of resources. For others, it raises concerns about the influence that wealthy foreign investors might wield over Syria’s future, and whether the benefits of reconstruction will be equitably shared among the population.
Despite these uncertainties, al-Habtoor’s announcement has injected a measure of optimism into an otherwise bleak landscape. For Syrians enduring daily hardship, the prospect of new jobs and improved transportation offers a glimmer of hope. And for the region as a whole, the willingness of Gulf investors to commit resources to Syria’s recovery could mark the beginning of a new chapter—one defined not by conflict, but by the slow, painstaking work of rebuilding.
As the dust of war begins to settle, the true test will be whether initiatives like al-Habtoor’s can deliver on their promise, turning bold visions into concrete progress for a nation eager to move forward.