Saudi Arabia launches major reconstruction projects in Syria

Saudi Arabia on Sunday announced a wide-ranging package of humanitarian and development projects in several Syrian regions, marking the kingdom’s most concrete step since pledging more than USD 6.4 billion in investments in the country last month.

The initiatives, announced by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center during a ceremony in Damascus, target critical sectors including debris removal, rehabilitation of schools, hospitals and bakeries, as well as upgrades to water and sanitation infrastructure.

Debris Removal and Infrastructure Rehabilitation

The event, attended by the center’s head Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah and Syrian humanitarian officials, saw the signing of multiple agreements, the most prominent being the “Rehabilitation and Debris Removal Project.”

Key components include:

• Clearing more than 75,000 square meters of rubble from roads and public facilities in Damascus and its suburbs to ease civilian movement.
• Establishing a specialized debris management unit and recycling at least 30,000 square meters of waste.
• Supplying equipment and machinery to sustain rubble clearance efforts for years to come.

Another agreement focused on rehabilitating sewage networks and water wells in the capital.

Support for Vital Sectors: Health, Education and Food Security

Beyond infrastructure, the projects extend to essential services that directly affect daily life:

• Education: Renovation and rehabilitation of 34 schools in Aleppo, Idlib and Homs.
• Health: Equipping 17 hospitals with modern, life-saving medical devices.
• Food Security: Restoring and operating around 60 bakeries and a bread production line.

Saudi Strategy for Recovery

Dr. Al-Rabeeah said that “these projects address sectors that represent urgent priorities for the Syrian people,” framing the initiative as a contribution to “support recovery efforts and alleviate the suffering of those affected.”

Syrian officials highlighted the massive destruction left by years of civil war, noting that debris and war remnants continue to obstruct humanitarian response and threaten civilian lives.

The projects come amid a reconstruction need the United Nations estimates at more than USD 400 billion. 

They also signal a further step in Saudi-Syrian economic rapprochement, following last month’s USD 6.4 billion Saudi investment agreements and an USD 800 million deal with Dubai’s DP World to develop the port of Tartus.