A Broad Investment Plan
The United Arab Emirates has laid out plans for wide-ranging investments in Syria spanning real estate, banking, technology and agriculture, Emirati officials said on 21 July 2026. The move would channel Gulf capital into an economy emerging from more than a decade of conflict.
$20 Billion in Real Estate
Emirati businessman Mohammad Al Habtoor is preparing two large real estate developments valued at $20 billion (USD) in Damascus and Latakia. The projects are said to include residential units, resorts, offices, schools and hospitals, with implementation expected to begin within two to three months.
An Alternative to Hormuz
On energy, the Emirates is pursuing what officials described as “zero dependence” on the Strait of Hormuz for oil exports. An alternative export route running through Iraq's Basra to Syria and onward to Turkey is expected to be ready by the end of 2026, with a third corridor under study for future output.
Rerouting crude away from the strait would reshape how Gulf energy reaches the Mediterranean and give Syria a role as a transit country.
Trade and Free Zones
UAE Minister of Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi was among the officials framing the push, which also covers the development of free zones and feasibility studies in agriculture. Investment in the banking and technology sectors is said to be under detailed review.
A Test of Follow-Through
Announcements of this scale will be measured against delivery. Much depends on security, clear property rules and the pace at which the announced free zones, feasibility studies and construction timelines translate into work on the ground.
Large, concrete commitments of foreign capital and a cross-border energy route could bring hard currency and construction activity into Syria, supporting reconstruction and, over time, the country's external accounts.