Syria seeks Gulf support for reconstruction

The new Syrian Foreign Minister, Asaad Hassan Al-Shibani, announced his plans to visit Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan next week, following his first official trip to Saudi Arabia.

Since the Islamist-led coalition seized control of Syria on December 8, the country has been seeking support from Gulf nations to rebuild after over a decade of devastating war. 

In a statement released on X, Asaad Hassan Al-Shibani said, “This week, I will represent my country, Syria, on an official visit to our brothers in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. We look forward to these visits contributing to stability, security, economic recovery, and building strong partnerships.”

Earlier this week, al-Chibani, along with other senior officials, traveled to Riyadh for two days of discussions aimed at securing Saudi support for Syria’s rebuilding process. 

This marked the first official visit abroad by the new Syrian leadership since the fall of Bashar al-Assad. Talks reportedly focused on stabilizing the country, fostering economic recovery, and ensuring regional security.

In December, sources confirmed that a Saudi delegation had met in Damascus with Syria’s new leader, Ahmad al-Chareh, who heads the Islamist group Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTC). 

This interaction signaled a significant shift in Saudi Arabia’s approach to Syria and its new leadership.