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Saudi Arabia-Syria relations

This handout picture provided by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) shows Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa (L) being welcomed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as Donald Trump Jr. (R) looks on during the Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference in Riyadh on October 29, 2025. (SAUDI PRESS AGENCY SPA / AFP)
February 7, 2026, 6:45 pm
Saudi Arabia announces major new investments in Syrian energy, aviation, telecoms
Riyadh is positioning itself as a leading backer of Damascus’s new leadership, including with $2 billion to build two airports in Aleppo and the creation of new airline
By Reuters
Ambulances donated by Saudi Arabia arrive in Damascus on September 7, 2025, as part of the Saudi aid campaign to Syria (Haitham EL-TABEI / AFP)
September 21, 2025, 11:23 am
With cash, doctors and bulldozers, Saudi Arabia pursues soft power push in Syria
Riyadh pledges rebuilding program and Saudi medical teams perform open-heart surgeries and cochlear implant operations across Syria, as Qatar and Turkey also vie for influence
By Haitham el-Tabei
This handout picture provided by the media office of Syria's transitional government shows Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (R) during his meeting with Syrian interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, in Riyadh on February 2, 2025. (Syria's Transitional Government / AFP)
February 3, 2025, 9:10 am
In Riyadh, Syria’s interim leader says Saudis want to help rebuild war-torn country
During first official visit to Saudi Arabia, Ahmed al-Sharaa says Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman showed ‘genuine desire’ to help Damascus build a stable future
By Haitham el-Tabei
Syria's then-de facto leader, now interim president Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Julani, walks in the presidential palace in Damascus, December 28, 2024. Mosa'ab Elshamy/ AP)
February 2, 2025, 12:23 pm
Syria’s interim president heads to Saudi Arabia on first diplomatic trip
In what is likely a signal to Iran, former rebel leader Ahmed al-Sharaa visits Riyadh in bid to rebuild ties with Gulf giant after years of Iranian dominance in Damascus
By Jon Gambrell
Syrian President Bashar Assad, right, meets with Saudi Arabia ambassador to Jordan Nayef al-Sadiri, in Damascus, Syria, May 10, 2023. (Syrian Presidency Facebook page via AP)
May 18, 2023, 4:21 pm
Returning to Arab fold, Syrian president heads to Saudi Arabia for regional summit
Bashar Assad to participate in 22-member Arab League meeting following 12-year suspension amid restoration of ties with Riyadh
By Bassam Mroue
Screencapture from unverified video showing a protest against normalization by Arab nations with the Syrian regime, in the rebel-hold city of Idlib, Syria, April 23, 2023. (Twitter. Used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
April 23, 2023, 8:06 pm
Hundreds of Syrians protest Arab countries’ detente with ‘murderous’ Assad regime
Demonstrators in rebel-held city of Idlib say normalization with government will come at the expense of ties with the people
By AFP
File: Syrian President Bashar Assad (right) receives a delegation representing various Arab parliaments in Damascus, February 26, 2023. (SANA via AP)
April 15, 2023, 6:46 pm
No consensus among envoys on Syrian Arab League return
After Saudi Arabia summit, top diplomats vow to pursue deal to end Syrian Civil War, slam Israeli police raids at Al-Aqsa Mosque
By AP
Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji, right, meets with Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad, upon his arrival at King Abdulaziz International Airport, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, April 12, 2023. (SANA via AP)
April 13, 2023, 3:38 pm
Saudis set to host Arab nation talks on Syria as Mideast diplomacy shifts
Diplomats to discuss divisive issue of possible end to Syria’s 2011 suspension from Arab League over regime’s actions during civil war
By Haitham el-Tabei
In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji, right, meets with Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad, upon his arrival at King Abdulaziz International Airport, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Wednesday, April 12, 2023 (SANA via AP)
April 12, 2023, 8:00 pm
Saudi Arabia hosts Iranian, Syrian officials as Middle East ties thaw
Syrian FM in country for first time since 2011; Israel looks on in alarm as Riyadh warms relations with Jewish state’s enemies
By AFP and ToI Staff
Syrian President Bashar Assad listens to Russian President Vladimir Putin during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, March 15, 2023. (Vladimir Gerdo, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
March 24, 2023, 1:06 pm
Saudi Arabia, Syria discuss restoring ties amid Mideast reshuffling
Saudi TV reports talks on reopening embassy in Damascus, after Chinese-backed deal to reestablish relations with Iran
By ABBY SEWELL
In this photo released by the official Syrian state news agency SANA, Syrian soldiers unload humanitarian aid sent from Saudi Arabia following a devastating earthquake, at the airport in Aleppo, Syria, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023. (SANA via AP)
March 24, 2023, 3:18 am
After Iran détente, Saudi Arabia opens diplomatic talks with Syria
Riyadh announces sides discussing resumption of consular services, 12 years after ties were cut at start of Syrian civil war
By ABBY SEWELL
This picture taken on September 11, 2018, shows a general view of a meeting of the Arab League foreign ministers at the organization's headquarters in the Egyptian capital Cairo. (AFP Photo/Mohamed El-Shahed)
December 26, 2018, 9:42 am
Arab League said likely to readmit Syria in 2019 amid Assad diplomatic flurry
US pressuring Cairo and Riyadh not to hold a vote, but even rivals of Iran-backed regime are reportedly seeking to improve ties as Syrian civil war winds down
By Michael Bachner
Supporters of Hezbollah chant slogans during a televised speech by leader Hassan Nasrallah in the southern town of Insar, Lebanon, on March 6, 2016. (AFP/Mahmoud Zayyat)
October 21, 2016, 12:13 am
US, Saudi Arabia blacklist Hezbollah members, financiers
Treasury freezes assets, blocks transactions for affiliates of Lebanese terror group supporting Syrian leader Assad
By AFP
Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir arrives at the Bayerischer Hof hotel to participate at the 52nd Munich Security Conference in Munich on February 12, 2016. (AFP/THOMAS KIENZLE)
March 5, 2016, 3:02 pm
Saudi FM: Assad must go at start of Syrian transition
Adel al-Jubeir also says Riyadh will itself take delivery of $3-billion worth of French arms initially destined for Lebanon
By ToI Staff
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