Sat May 31 16:23:27 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

Saudi Arabia and Qatar are jointly providing financial support to Syria to stabilize the country following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad. This includes funding public sector salaries and broader economic recovery plans. The US and EU have lifted sanctions, and the World Bank is resuming operations with projects focused on improving electricity access. Syria’s new government, led by interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, is working to rebuild diplomatic ties and distance itself from extremist groups, while denouncing violence. Despite this, Syria faces significant economic challenges and poverty, requiring substantial long-term investment to fully recover.

**News Article:**

**Saudi Arabia and Qatar Launch Joint Effort to Stabilize Syria’s Economy**

**Damascus** – Saudi Arabia and Qatar have announced a joint initiative to provide financial support to Syria, aiming to stabilize the war-ravaged nation and bolster its economic recovery. The announcement came during a joint press conference in Damascus on Saturday, where Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud stated that the two Gulf nations will jointly fund salaries for Syrian state employees.

While the exact amount of the financial support remains undisclosed, it follows earlier reports of Qatar providing $29 million per month for three months to cover civilian public sector worker salaries. This initiative has reportedly received the backing of the United States, with the former Trump administration lifting sanctions on Syria, followed by similar actions from the European Union.

Further demonstrating their commitment, Saudi Arabia and Qatar recently cleared Syria’s $15 million debt to the World Bank, paving the way for the institution to resume operations in the country after a 14-year hiatus. The World Bank’s initial project will focus on improving electricity access, a crucial step in revitalizing essential services like healthcare and education.

Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa is actively working to rebuild diplomatic ties and assure Western nations of his government’s commitment to distancing itself from extremist groups. While Al-Sharaa denounces ongoing violence, the international community remains cautious.

Despite these positive developments, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) estimates that Syria’s economy will require over 50 years to return to pre-war levels at the current growth rate. A recent UNDP report highlights the dire situation, with nine out of ten Syrians living in poverty and the country’s GDP significantly reduced since 2011. Massive investment is needed to accelerate the recovery process and address the widespread poverty and unemployment plaguing the nation.

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