Emirates Airlines set to restart flights to Damascus in mid-July
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Emirates Airlines announces it will join other carriers in restarting flights to Damascus as regional and international support for Syria grows.
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An Emirates Airbus A380 jumbo jet lands at Dubai International Airport in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Friday, Sept. 9, 2022 (AP)
Emirates Airlines announced Monday the resumption of flights to the Syrian capital, Damascus, starting from July 16.
Emirates will initially operate three weekly flights to Damascus, with plans to increase to four flights per week starting August 2, 2025. The airline will then further expand service to daily flights beginning October 26, 2025.
Earlier this week, the CEO of Saudi budget carrier Adel Airlines said the company could launch flights to Syria as early as July, the Saudi airline one of just a handful of foreign carriers to resume flights to Damascus as sanctions on Syria ease.
A Flydubai spokesperson confirmed to RIA Novosti on April 16 that the airline is preparing to restart flights to Syria, following media reports on Monday which indicated the UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority would soon reinstate flight permissions to the country.
This comes amid a wider support campaign for Syria, with Gulf countries providing aid to the new Syrian government following the lifting of US sanctions as well as plans by the EU to lift economic restrictions.
Saudi, Qatar to provide Syria with financial aid
On May 31, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan announced that Riyadh and Doha would jointly provide financial support for public sector employees in Syria as part of broader efforts to support reconstruction and economic recovery in the war-torn country.
The announcement was made during a joint press conference in Damascus alongside Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani, where Bin Farhan reiterated Saudi Arabia’s support for the removal of international sanctions on Syria while emphasizing his country’s dedication to revitalizing Syria’s reconstruction efforts.
According to a joint statement later issued by Saudi Arabia and Qatar, the financial support, designed to cover three months for Syrian public employees, comes as part of a broader initiative following the two Gulf states’ earlier joint effort to assist Syria in settling approximately $15 million in World Bank arrears.
Reaffirming their shared commitment to Syria’s development and economic and social stability, both countries emphasized in their statement the critical need for coordination with international and regional organizations to deliver sustainable support and create meaningful development opportunities for the Syrian people.
US companies to help rejuvenate Syria's energy
A comprehensive strategic plan has been launched to revitalize Syria’s oil and gas sector through partnerships with American companies, with the centerpiece being the creation of SyriUS Energy, a Syrian-American joint venture designed to reconstruct the country’s energy infrastructure.
The five-phase plan focuses on securing oil fields, stabilizing the domestic energy supply, forming public-private partnerships with US firms, ensuring transparent governance, and reintegrating Syria into regional energy markets.
