World Bank Rail Grant
Syria's Ministry of Transport is in negotiations with the World Bank over a grant of $200 million (USD) to rehabilitate the country's railways, officials said during a meeting in Damascus on 24 June 2026. The talks form part of a wider effort to rebuild transport infrastructure left in disrepair after more than a decade of conflict.
The proposed funding would target a rail network that has been only partly operational for years, and it ranks among the larger international financing packages the transitional government has pursued for its reconstruction agenda.
A Network in Disrepair
The railway system spans about 2,500 kilometers in total, of which 1,052 kilometers remain in service. The road network is far larger, covering 45,349 kilometers, including 9,058 kilometers of main roads and 1,618 kilometers of highways.
Bridges are a particular weak point: of roughly 1,000 road bridges nationwide, 86 are recorded as damaged, complicating freight movement between provinces.
Dry Ports and Corridors
A memorandum signed the previous month between the national railway company and the operator of the Latakia container terminal envisions dry ports in Damascus, Aleppo, and Homs, intended to ease congestion at the coast and speed inland cargo handling.
The plan also identifies strategic road axes, including north–south and east–west corridors and an upgrade of the Latakia–Aleppo highway.
Gulf Investment Interest
The figures were presented to a visiting delegation from the United Arab Emirates, led by a deputy minister for infrastructure and transport, which expressed interest in studying cooperation in railways, logistics, and digital transport systems. The two sides discussed forming joint working groups rather than signing binding commitments.
Roadmap to 2028
A work program covering 2026 to 2028 sets out a sustainable transport policy, a national digital platform for freight, and a vehicle fleet modernization scheme. Delivery depends heavily on securing external financing, of which the World Bank discussions are the most advanced element disclosed so far.