Riyadh and Washington deepen coordination on Syria’s reconstruction and economic recovery.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – The Saudi foreign minister, His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud, received US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack in Riyadh on 26 June 2025, marking a key step in Saudi Arabia’s active diplomatic engagement with Syria’s new transitional leadership. The meeting focused on collaborative measures to enhance Syria’s security, stability and economic reconstruction.
This high-level encounter forms part of a broader Saudi‑led diplomatic effort that began in early 2025. Riyadh hosted a major conference in January to support Syria’s post‑conflict future, calling for the easing of Western sanctions and the mobilisation of regional resources.
In May, Prince Faisal travelled to Damascus with a Saudi economic delegation, pledging joint financial support with Qatar for Syria’s public‑sector employees. He underlined Saudi Arabia’s commitment to backing Syria’s economic recovery and reconstruction. Concurrently, international pressures led the US, EU and UK to relax sanctions on key sectors, paving the way for Gulf‑led investments in infrastructure, agriculture, energy and telecoms.
Syrian reformers are also forging ahead: government plans to revitalise the Damascus Securities Exchange by expanding its trading week aim to attract investment and modernise the economy. In parallel, a multinational consortium is preparing an energy project in Syria, involving Qatar, Turkey and US partners.
These diplomatic engagements underscore Saudi Arabia’s growing role as a catalyst for Syria’s reintegration into the regional economy. With sanction relief underway and Gulf support secured, the kingdom is looking to channel investment, rebuild infrastructure, and support human capital in the nation.
Source: Saudi Press Agency (SPA)
