A delegation from the Saudi Fund for Development, headed by its chief executive Sultan bin Abdulrahman Al-Marshad, discussed proposed priority projects in Syria’s electricity and water sectors with Syrian Energy Minister Mohammed al-Bashir and other ministry officials.
Four projects worth $250 million were presented, part of a broader list of projects across various sectors to be financed by the fund in phases, with total funding potentially reaching $1.5 billion.
Al-Marshad told Asharq Al-Awsat that development agreements to finance priority projects in vital sectors would be signed with the Syrian government “soon.”
The talks are part of a three-day visit to Syria that began on Tuesday, during which the delegation is holding meetings with several ministers and heads of public bodies to discuss priority development projects and the fund’s contribution to economic and social development in Syria, as well as support for stability.
The delegation began its meetings on Wednesday with a visit to the headquarters of the Energy Ministry in Damascus. According to a ministry statement, discussions focused on priority projects proposed in the electricity and water sectors, as part of coordination to identify areas that could be supported in the next phase.
The delegation later held an expanded meeting with Energy Ministry aides, including Ibrahim al-Adhan, for planning and institutional excellence, and with Osama Abu Zeid for water resources, attended by officials from the electricity, water, and sanitation sectors.
During the meeting, a package of service and development projects was reviewed to determine the ministry’s priorities ahead of moving to subsequent coordination and implementation stages.
The proposed projects include maintenance of the Aleppo thermal power plant to restore it to full production capacity, the supply and installation of prepaid smart water meters for institutions across all provinces, a project to convey Euphrates water from Deir el-Zor in eastern Syria to the Tadmor and Hasiya areas in Homs province, and an irrigation project for the plains of al-Bab and Tadef in northern Aleppo countryside, aimed at improving water resources and supporting the agricultural sector.
The ministry stated that the visit is part of efforts to define its requirements, noting that a subsequent meeting will be held with the Ministry of Finance to finalize coordination and select the priority projects to be supported.
In a separate statement to Asharq Al-Awsat, Al-Marshad said the visit aims to explore opportunities for development cooperation between the Saudi Fund for Development and Syria across various sectors. He said discussions are focused on financing priority projects and supporting economic and social development in Syria.
Al-Marshad said development agreements with the Syrian government to finance priority projects in vital sectors would be signed in the near future.
For his part, Energy Ministry aide for water resources Osama Abu Zeid told Asharq Al-Awsat that the proposed projects are “important and urgent to achieve early recovery and improve services for the Syrian people.”
He stated that the rehabilitation of the al-Bab and Tadef irrigation project would irrigate more than 6,600 hectares, while rehabilitating the Aleppo thermal power plant would increase electricity generation capacity by up to 600 kilowatts.
He said the rehabilitation of water stations in villages and towns destroyed during the war includes restoring 157 stations, while the supply of prepaid smart water meters would help rationalize consumption and improve water services.
Abu Zeid stated that the total value of the projects amounts to $250 million, noting that there has been positive engagement from the Saudi Fund for Development, and that funding is expected to be approved soon after the administrative procedures are completed.
The Saudi Fund for Development delegation, led by Al-Marshad, also met Syrian Finance Minister Mohammed Yisr Barnieh on Tuesday to discuss the provision of concessional financing with a high grant component to support government projects in vital sectors.
In a post on LinkedIn, Barnieh expressed hope that an agreement would be reached by the end of the visit on a list of projects to be financed in phases, with a total value potentially reaching $1.5 billion.
According to Barnieh, the projects primarily focus on the health and education sectors through the rehabilitation and equipping of hospitals and schools, as well as projects in the energy and water sectors, including electricity substations and water treatment facilities, alongside housing, disaster management, and telecommunications projects.
The projects also include financing support for a large number of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, helping to create productive job opportunities in several development areas.
Barnieh said he presented an initial overview outlining needs and proposed projects, prepared in cooperation with several ministries, governorates, authorities, and institutions, within the framework of a workshop organized by the Finance Ministry earlier this week in support of the “Syria Without Camps” initiative.
The Saudi Fund for Development delegation also met with Health Minister Musaab al-Ali to discuss financing and support for vital health projects within the ministry’s 2026-2028 plan, as well as with Education Minister Mohammed Abdulrahman Turko to discuss enhancing cooperation in education and improving the educational process in Syria.
The fund stated on Tuesday that the visit highlights the importance of development cooperation between the two sides in supporting the sustainable development goals and development initiatives in Syria.
Since its establishment in 1974, the fund has contributed to development projects in over 100 developing countries, financing more than 800 projects and programs worth over $22 billion.
Saudi Arabia has continued to provide extensive support to Syria across multiple sectors following the ouster of former president Bashar al-Assad on Dec. 8, 2024.
Mohammed Hamza, head of the Syrian General Authority for Exhibitions and International Markets, said during his participation as guest of honor at the “Made in Saudi Arabia” exhibition held from Dec. 15 to 17 that Saudi investments in Syria exceeded $6.6 billion in 2025 across various sectors.
