Saudi Arabia and Qatar have announced their offer to provide financial assistance to pay the salaries of Syrian government employees. This was announced by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud. He made this announcement while briefing journalists after meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Aazad Hassan Al-Shaybani in Damascus. Syria is currently governed by a government established by the terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). The elected government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was overthrown by a coup carried out by HTS. This happened on December 8, 2024. When HTS forces invaded Damascus, Assad fled to Russia and sought protection in Moscow. With that, the 14-year civil war in Syria has also come to an end.
Saudi Arabia and Qatar are among the Gulf countries providing the most support and assistance to the HTS government ruling Syria after overthrowing Assad’s government. Although Saudi Arabia and Qatar have announced their decision to provide financial assistance to pay salaries to Syrian government employees, the details have not been disclosed.
Qatar to provide $29 million per month
It is not clear how much money Saudi Arabia and Qatar will provide to pay salaries to government employees. However, Qatar’s Finance Minister Mohammed Yusri Barnia announced last May that the Qatari government had decided to provide $29 million per month to the Syrian government. He also said that Qatar had decided to provide this funding for a period of three months.
The United States has welcomed the decision by Saudi Arabia and Qatar to provide financial assistance to pay salaries to Syrian government employees. President Donald Trump’s administration has also lifted harsh sanctions imposed against the Syrian government. In addition, the European Union (EU) has also decided to lift measures taken against Syria.
Another proof of Saudi Arabia and Qatar’s substantial assistance to the HTS government is that the two countries jointly paid off Syria’s debt to the World Bank. Saudi Arabia and Qatar paid off $15 million owed by the Syrian government to the World Bank in mid-May.
World Bank prepares to launch major project
The president of the HTS government established in Syria after overthrowing Assad’s rule is Ahmed al-Shara, the leader of that group. As the international community has isolated Syria due to the civil war, Shara is working to restore those relations. His efforts to strengthen ties with Gulf and Western powers are particularly noteworthy.
His government is currently prioritizing obtaining assistance needed to rebuild Syria. Analysts believe his government has made significant progress in this area. One thing is that the US and EU have lifted sanctions, opening up opportunities to participate in the global economy. And with Saudi Arabia and Qatar paying off the World Bank debt, the bank has decided to re-engage in Syria’s development projects and has begun work.
As such, the World Bank has announced its decision to start a major project in Syria after 14 years and has begun preparations to launch the project. The aim of the project is to restore the devastated electricity service network and establish electricity service. The World Bank believes that providing electricity service is an essential service necessary to establish vital services such as health care, education and clean drinking water.
