Although reports issued by the United Nations indicate that reconstruction in Syria requires approximately $400 billion, determining the cost is a difficult matter in itself if it is not based on field studies carried out by specialized committees according to specific mechanisms, because the extent of the damage to the housing and infrastructure The country is very big.
It is expected that the future Syrian administration will rely on local sources of income and international financial aid from donor countries in the reconstruction process.
National natural resources
Natural resources constitute a major source of state revenues, and may contribute to turning the economic wheel and accelerating the reconstruction movement.
1- Oil
Oil is classified as the state’s most prominent resource, as proven Syrian reserves, according to the American Energy Magazine, amounted to about 2.5 billion barrels, but this sector faces challenges and obstacles, the most important of which are international sanctions, the continued control of the Syrian Democratic Forces over the majority of oil wells, and the need for oil production infrastructure to be re-maintained and restructured. All of these obstacles require international efforts and solutions.
It is difficult at the present time to establish a mechanism and time frame that can be worked on to benefit from financial oil revenues and achieve self-sufficiency.
2- Phosphate
Syria is one of the largest countries in the world that possesses phosphate. It is ranked fifth in the world, with its reserves estimated at about 1.8 billion tons, according to figures issued by the Syrian Phosphate and Mines Company. The reserves are concentrated in the Palmyra region with the Khneifis and Sharqi mines and the Al-Haffa region in Latakia.
The country produced about 3.5 million tons of phosphate annually, making it one of the largest phosphate producers in the world.
The export volume reached about 2.5 million tons annually, with revenues ranging between 250 and 300 million dollars annually.
In an interview with Al Jazeera Net, Dr. Yahya Al-Sayyid Omar – an economist and director of the Trends Center – confirms that investing in phosphate reserves is the quickest and most likely to achieve quick gains, and this is due to the new Syrian government’s control over most phosphate mines.
3- Transit trade
Syria is positioned on a geopolitical position that allows it to be a node for international land and sea trade routes. It is considered a link between the continents of Asia and Europe and between the markets of the Arabian Gulf, Turkey, and the countries of the European Union.
The Syrian government must take advantage of the country’s position to be part of international trade route projects, especially with regard to the Indo-Middle Eastern European Road and the Silk Road project.
The Syrian coasts of the eastern Mediterranean may serve as an important starting point for the Indian Middle Eastern and Silk Road projects.
Syria’s geopolitical location will provide financial revenues from the passage of transit trucks through its territory between Türkiye and the Arab Gulf states and between the European market and the Gulf states.
Syria could also be a corridor for energy pipelines coming from Iraq and the Gulf states to international markets, generating annual revenues.
4- Frozen balances
The Syrian state has frozen balances in international banks, the exact number of which is very difficult to know, and this is due to technical matters taken by international banks not to disclose the value of the funds deposited with them.
Among the disclosed frozen funds are those in Lebanese banks, which were estimated at between 40-60 billion dollars, according to a previous statement by the head of the former regime, Bashar al-Assad, in addition to the presence of 112 million dollars in the name of the Syrian government in Swiss banks, according to a report published by Al Jazeera Net.
The frozen balances in international banks, if recovered, will constitute one of the sources of financing for reconstruction projects in the country.
In order for the state to be able to benefit from these funds, legal efforts must be made and the international sanctions imposed on it must be lifted, according to observers.
5- Syrian investments
Syrian citizens invest in many countries of the world, especially in the Arab Gulf states, Turkey, Egypt, and the European Union countries.
In this context, Manaf Koman, an economic researcher at the Omran Center for Studies, points out in an interview with Al Jazeera Net the need to encourage Syrian investors to transfer part of their investments to the country, by giving them incentives and tax exemptions to encourage participation in reconstruction.
Arab donors
The cost of financing the country’s reconstruction exceeds the capabilities that Syria possesses, so the government is expected to propose establishing a fund to rebuild the destroyed infrastructure, provide housing, and restart the economy.
The Fund’s financing is based on assistance provided by international organizations, the World Bank, the United Nations, and donor countries. It is also based on investments and donations by individuals or non-profit institutions, and donations are usually made through holding international conferences.
If all political, economic and security obstacles disappear, it is expected that the Arab Gulf countries will play an active role in financing the reconstruction of Syria.
Researcher Manaf Koman points out the importance of Arab support for the Syrian economy through the process of encouraging trade exchange with it, which enhances the acceleration of the economic cycle, stimulates industry and agriculture, and provides foreign exchange.
Here we review the most prominent donor countries, namely Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait.
1- Qatar
Qatar is one of the most prominent donor countries that contribute to supporting and assisting poor countries and countries damaged by natural disasters or devastating wars. Qatar has played a major role in supporting reconstruction operations in Gaza, Lebanon and Iraq.
Regarding Syria, Dr. Al-Sayyid Omar points out that Qatar is expected to be at the forefront of donor countries for the reconstruction process, by providing financial grants, offering investments, and adopting the construction of residential complexes.
Mr. Omar emphasizes that Qatar plays a major role in the process of international recognition of the new government, thanks to its extensive international relations that it has formed through its active and effective foreign policy.
Qatar is one of the countries allied to the new Syrian state. It was the largest supporter of the Syrian revolution economically and politically in all international forums, and it was the only country in the world that hosted an embassy for the Syrian National Coalition.
In this context, he emphasized Leader of the new Syrian administration Ahmed Al-Sharaa During his meeting with the Minister of State in the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mohammed Al-Khulaifi, in the Syrian capital, Damascus On December 23, Qatar said that Qatar has a special priority in Syria because of its honorable positions towards the Syrian people.
2- Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is also a donor country, and it is expected to play an important role in Syria at the political, economic, and security levels.
In fact, Riyadh organized a conference on January 12, 2025, in which 18 countries participated. The conference discussed lifting sanctions and supporting the stability and reconstruction process in Syria.
Riyadh is expected to contribute to the reconstruction process by providing financial grants, loans and financial deposits, and launching investment projects in Syria.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan confirmed during his visit to Damascus on January 24 that his country is ready to support the rise of Syria.
3- Kuwait
Kuwait is classified as one of the largest donor countries in the world, and has provided a large number of countries with financial and humanitarian aid and financial loans.
Kuwait provided financial assistance to the Syrians through United Nations programs on a permanent basis during the period of the Syrian revolution.
Today, Kuwait stands alongside Saudi Arabia and Qatar in supporting the new government, and is expected to provide financial grants and long-term loans as part of the reconstruction process.
