The Saudi Fund for Development signed six concessional development loan agreements worth more than USD 403 million with the Syrian Arab Republic in Riyadh. These agreements target the rehabilitation of essential infrastructure, the restoration of vital public services, and the improvement of living conditions for communities affected by conflict. Under directives from King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the signing ceremony took place in the presence of the Crown Prince and Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa.
The formal documents were executed by SFD CEO Sultan bin Abdulrahman Al-Marshad and Syrian Minister of Finance Mohammed Yusr Barniyeh. The financing covers six specific sectors to address urgent public needs while improving institutional capabilities across Syria.
Energy and Water Infrastructure Support
Under the signed agreements, a USD 90 million loan will finance the rehabilitation of generating units at the Aleppo Thermal Power Plant. This project will help restore stable electricity supplies for approximately 5 million people while sustaining local industrial and business operations. In addition, steady power generation contributes directly to wider national stability in municipal facilities.
Meanwhile, a separate USD 30 million allocation targets the drinking water system through the supply and installation of 300,000 smart meters. Connected via modern smart devices, this network will improve service efficiency and distribution tracking for approximately 1.5 million people in different provinces.
Housing and Emergency Management
Emergency response services will receive USD 105 million to construct, rehabilitate, and equip 25 civil defence centres across several governorates. Consequently, these facilities will improve disaster management and rubble removal operations for more than 7 million residents. The investment provides critical rescue capabilities to local authorities handling complex emergencies.
Furthermore, the agreements allocate USD 60 million to the residential sector to rehabilitate up to 10,000 damaged housing units. This housing intervention aims to restore regular living conditions, reduce displacement pressures, and support community stability in several affected regions.
Healthcare Rehabilitation and Digital Finance
In the medical field, the funding provides USD 100 million to reconstruct, rehabilitate, and equip hospitals and health centres. These resources target priority medical facilities and strategic hospitals to expand public access to medical care. The initiative seeks to alleviate operational strain on existing hospitals while expanding specialized clinical treatments through modern health technology.
Additionally, Syria’s Ministry of Finance will receive USD 18 million to execute an institutional modernization plan. This project focuses on digital transformation, beneficiary experience upgrades, and improved transparency in government financial systems.
Saudi Fund for Development Assistance History
These newly signed loans build on previous economic support programs provided to Syria by Saudi Arabia. Specifically, the Saudi Fund for Development delivered two financial grants in September 2025 to supply crude oil and fund public sector salaries over a three-month duration. These initiatives form part of wider efforts coordinated by the Kingdom to assist regional economic recovery through targeted public sector funding in economy sectors.
