In a significant turn of events for the Middle East, Saudi Arabia and Syria have taken bold steps to deepen their economic ties, while Qatar continues its steadfast support for humanitarian and development projects across war-torn Syria. On August 19, 2025, a high-level roundtable in Damascus brought together Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid Al Falih and Syrian Minister of Economy and Industry Mohammad Nidal al-Shaar, flanked by representatives from both countries’ private sectors. The gathering, according to Saudi officials, is part of an official visit aimed squarely at strengthening the economic partnership between the two nations—a relationship that has seen its share of ups and downs over the past decade.
Al Falih made headlines during the meeting when he announced that Saudi Arabia would soon ink a new agreement with Syria designed to encourage and safeguard mutual investments. As reported by Saudi state media, Al Falih emphasized that this move reflects Riyadh’s commitment to tackling economic challenges in the region and supporting joint development initiatives. "These efforts aim to foster sustainable investment projects and create opportunities for growth and development in both nations," he stated, underscoring the Kingdom’s dedication to deepening sustainable investment cooperation.
Perhaps even more ambitious is the news that the Saudi Stock Exchange, Tadawul, is preparing a comprehensive feasibility study for the establishment and operation of a Damascus securities exchange. The goal, Saudi officials say, is to facilitate joint ventures and create the kind of robust financial infrastructure necessary for long-term economic growth. Al Falih pointed out the importance of collaboration with the Syrian people, noting that these projects are intended to foster sustainable investment and development on both sides of the border.
This diplomatic and economic push follows directives from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has made it clear that deepening engagement with Damascus is a priority. The roundtable also built on the momentum of last month’s Saudi-Syrian Investment Forum, which saw participation from over 100 Saudi companies and 20 government entities. The forum resulted in the signing of 47 investment projects valued at more than SAR 24 billion (about $6.7 trillion), covering a wide range of sectors—from real estate and infrastructure to finance, telecommunications, energy, industry, tourism, trade, and health care. According to Saudi media, these efforts align with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 agenda, which seeks to diversify the Saudi economy and enhance its global investment profile.
While Saudi Arabia is making moves to strengthen its economic partnership with Syria, the State of Qatar continues to focus on humanitarian and development support for the Syrian people. According to the Qatar News Agency, Qatari institutions such as Qatar Charity (QC), Qatar Red Crescent (QRCS), and the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) have been at the forefront of humanitarian action since the outbreak of the Syrian crisis. Their interventions span health, shelter, education, food security, infrastructure, and economic empowerment, with more than 4,800 projects implemented at a total cost of around QR 750 million.
Karam Ali, Director of Qatar Charity’s office in Turkiye and Syria, told QNA that the organization’s response to the February 2025 earthquake alone amounted to QR 70 million. "We provided emergency shelters such as tents and prefabricated homes, along with food baskets and other essential supplies," he explained. Ali also highlighted the establishment of the "City of Hope," which houses 1,400 families and features schools, health centers, a kindergarten, a market, and integrated service facilities. More than 2,000 homes have been built, either individually or as part of residential communities.
Qatar Charity’s efforts extend beyond shelter. The organization manages Bab al-Hawa Hospital and implements economic empowerment projects targeting poor families and orphan mothers through training and support for small businesses. Ali noted that new projects are underway in collaboration with Syria’s Ministries of Health and Education, including printing schoolbooks for grades one through nine, renovating schools, and providing medicines and medical supplies. There are also plans to establish solar power stations and maintain water and sewage facilities. "Project selection and implementation are carried out in coordination with the Syrian government, local authorities, and humanitarian organizations to ensure aid reaches the most vulnerable people and areas," Ali said.
Food security remains a top priority, with programs focused on supporting the wheat value chain and livestock, as well as sponsoring and operating 12 health centers and supplying the ambulance system with 18 vehicles. During Ramadan in 2024, Qatar Charity launched a campaign to rebuild 1,500 homes; as of August 2025, work has begun on 600 of these houses in Syria’s Al-Ghab Plain and Maarrat Al-Nu’man, with preparations underway to complete the rest in northern rural Aleppo.
The Qatar Red Crescent has also played a pivotal role since 2012, providing aid that has benefited over 13 million people and spending more than $160 million, according to QRCS’s Head of Representation Mission in Syria and Turkiye, Mazen Abdullah Salloum. QRCS was the first humanitarian organization to deliver relief across the border into Syria following the devastating February 2025 earthquake, deploying medical convoys that performed over 300 specialized surgeries and operated four mobile clinics serving displaced persons. The organization has established 15 residential villages in northern Syria, comprising approximately 3,500 apartments for over 60,000 people, and has repaired hundreds of damaged homes. "Plans are under way for additional restoration projects and the construction of new villages, aligned with government reconstruction efforts," Salloum noted.
QRCS’s work doesn’t stop there. The organization supports hospitals, builds bakeries, rehabilitates irrigation stations, and provides vital medicines and medical supplies, all with the backing of the Qatar Fund for Development. Cooperation with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent has grown since December 2024, including support for poor families with food baskets, heart surgeries for children, and seasonal projects such as sacrificial offerings during Eid al-Adha and Ramadan. According to Dr. Mohammed Hazem Baqleh, President of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, joint meetings are preparing infrastructure and sustainable development projects, with plans for a memorandum of understanding covering most Syrian governorates. The two sides are also exploring digital technology in humanitarian work, following the Syrian Arab Red Crescent’s participation in a related conference in Qatar.
Minister of Social Affairs and Labour Hind Kabawat expressed Syria’s pride in its relationship with the State of Qatar, praising the humanitarian, moral, and material support Qatar provides. She highlighted that cooperation programs cover social protection, education, youth support, and small projects aimed at moving from aid dependency to economic empowerment. Vocational training projects and consultations on developing labor and protection laws are also part of the ongoing collaboration.
These developments reveal a region in flux, with Saudi Arabia focusing on long-term economic integration and Qatar doubling down on humanitarian and developmental aid. As the dust settles from years of conflict and crisis, the combined efforts of these Gulf nations—one pushing for investment and the other for resilience—may well shape the future of Syria’s recovery and growth.