Syria signs $800 million deal with UAE to develop Tartus Port
3 Min Read
Syria's General Authority for Land and Sea Ports signs a $800M MoU with Dubai Ports World to upgrade Tartus Port and expand logistics infrastructure.
-
Syria's General Authority for Land and Sea Ports official and Dubai Ports World officials sign an $800 million memorandum of understanding to develop Tartus Port and logistics zones in Syria on May 16, 2025. (Social media)
Syria’s General Authority for Land and Sea Ports has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Dubai Ports World (DP World) worth $800 million, aimed at developing the Port of Tartus and expanding the country’s logistics infrastructure.
In an official statement released Thursday, the authority described the agreement as "a strategic move aimed at strengthening port and logistics infrastructure in Syria," confirming it would support reconstruction efforts and stimulate the national economy.
The MoU outlines a comprehensive investment to develop, manage, and operate a multi-purpose terminal at Tartus Port. The project aims to enhance the port’s operational capacity and efficiency, positioning it as a pivotal hub for both regional and international trade.
That said, the port development is expected to attract foreign direct investment and contribute to Syria’s broader economic recovery.
Investment to include industrial and free zones
Beyond Tartus, the agreement outlines ambitious plans to develop industrial zones, free trade areas, dry ports, and freight transit hubs in key strategic locations across Syria. Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to advancing economic growth and streamlining trade and transport logistics.
According to the General Authority, the memorandum aligns with the Syrian government's broader vision to modernize the transportation sector and open new channels for foreign investment. It forms part of a comprehensive strategy to rehabilitate infrastructure and revive vital economic sectors that have been severely impacted by years of conflict.
The signing of the Tartus Port deal with DP World coincides with US President Donald Trump’s recent announcement during his visit to Saudi Arabia that sanctions on Syria would be lifted, an expected catalyst for increased international involvement in Syria.
It is worth noting that Syria's transitional government has taken a decisive step to reduce Russian influence by canceling a long-standing contract with a Russian company managing the Tartus port. Riyad Judi, director of the customs department in Tartus, confirmed the development to al-Watan newspaper on January 23, noting that the revenues from the port would now go entirely to the Syrian state.
The agreement, originally signed in 2019 under former President Bashar al-Assad's government, granted the Russian firm Stroytransgaz control over the port for 49 years. In return, the company would invest $500 million in the port, keeping 65% of the profits while the Syrian government retained the remaining 35%.
The Tartus port, Syria's second-largest after Latakia, is a critical Mediterranean hub with a capacity of four million tons annually, and home to Russia's only naval base in the region. Established in 1971 by the Soviet Union and later expanded in 2017, the base has served as a strategic outpost for Russian military operations in the Middle East.
