The Saudi Chambers of Commerce announced the formation of the Saudi-Syrian Business Council in record time, selecting an active membership for the council and developing a support plan for 2025–2030, in implementation of the directives of the wise leadership.
The union, represented by the new council, organized the first Saudi-Syrian Partnership and Investment Forum of its kind at the private sector level in Riyadh, with the participation of 450 officials and investors. The forum outlined features and opportunities for partnership and investment in 12 promising economic sectors and announced a number of practical recommendations and initiatives to develop economic relations.
During his speech, it was clarified that Syrian investments in the Kingdom reached 8.4 billion riyals in 2023, an increase of 13% over the previous year, while the number of investment licenses granted to Syrians in the Kingdom in 2024 reached about 3,225 active licenses, an increase of 146% compared to 2023.
It was added that Syrian companies operating in the Saudi market contributed to the employment of more than 61,000 employees, including 14,000 citizens. Syria has more than 6.1 million hectares of fertile agricultural land, huge phosphate reserves estimated at 1.8 billion tons, and significant potential in solar energy projects due to high sunshine rates exceeding 300 days per year.
The speech concluded by emphasizing that the forum represents a platform for launching qualitative projects in real estate, energy, transportation, agriculture, and technology, stressing the commitment of the governments of the Kingdom and Syria to provide all forms of support to create an attractive and competitive investment environment, fulfilling the aspirations of the two brotherly peoples for a more prosperous and sustainable future.
In turn, it was confirmed that relations between the two countries are close and witnessing rapid growth, noting that the trade forum aims to enhance the investment partnership and contribute to the reconstruction of Syria, especially with the volume of trade exchange reaching about 900 million riyals during the first five months of 2025, a growth rate of 80% compared to the same period last year.
It was predicted that the trade exchange volume would exceed two billion riyals by the end of 2025, the highest in 13 years, emphasizing the importance of the Saudi-Syrian Business Council as a platform to connect the private sector, overcome obstacles, and explore opportunities. Investors were invited to participate in major economic events in the Kingdom, such as the Biban 25 Forum in November and the Leap Conference in April 2026, to enhance trade cooperation and innovation.
The chairman of the Saudi-Syrian Business Council pointed out that the leadership of the two brotherly countries has laid a solid foundation for economic partnership, explaining that the relationship will not be limited to deals and seizing opportunities but will be a comprehensive partnership through cooperation between Saudi and Syrian investors. The council will work to open an office to serve investors from both sides, clarifying that the Saudi private sector will be Syria’s primary partner and that Saudi investments will become the largest and most successful for the benefit of the Syrian economy.
The dialogue sessions at the forum highlighted investment opportunities and promising partnerships between the Kingdom and Syria, opening direct communication channels between business owners and sectoral committees in the Saudi-Syrian Business Council, while showcasing partnership opportunities in the sectors of agriculture, industry, real estate and tourism development, trade and exports, infrastructure, energy, technology, finance, investment, and insurance.
Figures indicate a noticeable growth in the volume of investments between the two countries. From 2003 to 2015, there were 8 Saudi companies in Syria, 11 projects, and investments worth 1.7 billion riyals. In 2025, the number of investment agreements reached 47, with an investment volume estimated at about 24 billion riyals. Syrian investments in the Kingdom in 2015 were about 367 million riyals, rising to 8.4 billion riyals in 2024.
