(MENAFN) Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa said on Wednesday that Syria’s post-war reconstruction should depend on investment rather than foreign aid, stressing the country’s growing role in regional stability and expanding economic ties with Saudi Arabia.

Speaking at the Future Investment Initiative (FII) 2025 conference in Riyadh, Sharaa praised Saudi Arabia’s leadership in regional economic growth and its support for Syria’s recovery. “We want to rebuild Syria through investment, not through aid and assistance,” he said, noting that “Saudi Arabia is a major player in the region, and under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s vision, it has become a hub for economists in the Middle East.”

He underlined that economic growth and regional security are interconnected, recalling how Syria’s instability during the war contributed to drug trafficking and migration crises. “The world has experienced Syria in turmoil over the past 14 years and as a generator of crises over the last 60 years,” Sharaa said.

According to the president, Syria has already attracted $28 billion in foreign investments within six months of reforming its investment laws. “Syria’s investment opportunities are rich, and major global economists recognize this,” he added, citing partnerships with Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain, Jordan, and several US firms.

He expressed appreciation for Saudi Arabia’s support, saying, “Saudi Arabia supports prosperity, stability, and development in Syria, and I have been following for years the vision put forward by the Saudi crown prince, which encompasses the entire region.” Sharaa affirmed his government’s commitment to safeguarding investors and promoting economic integration. “We cannot live in isolation. Integration with other countries creates a fully connected future economy,” he stated.

The Syrian leader said he expects Syria to achieve a balanced position in the global economy and “will be among major economies within several years.”

Separately, Sharaa held talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss enhancing bilateral cooperation in investment and economic development, as well as regional and international affairs. Senior officials from both sides attended the meeting, which “reflected the depth of the fraternal relations” between Syria and Saudi Arabia, according to a statement from the Syrian presidency.

Sharaa arrived in Riyadh on Tuesday to attend the ninth edition of the FII conference, which gathered over 8,000 global participants. This marks his third visit to Saudi Arabia since taking office in January 2025. Syria has been pushing to rebuild its economy and attract foreign investors following the end of Bashar al-Assad’s decades-long rule in late 2024.

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