DP World has signed a 30-year concession agreement with Syria’s General Authority for Land and Sea Ports to develop and operate the Port of Tartus. The agreement includes an $800 million investment by DP World to upgrade the port’s infrastructure and logistics capacity.
The deal was signed in Damascus by DP World Chairman Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem and Qutaiba Ahmed Badawi, head of the Syrian ports authority. The agreement is structured as a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model, with DP World holding full ownership over the duration of the concession.
Located on the Mediterranean coast, Tartus is Syria’s second-largest port and a key access point to trade routes linking Europe, the Levant and North Africa. The investment comes after a prolonged period of underinvestment in Syria’s port infrastructure during more than a decade of conflict.
DP World plans to modernise container and general cargo terminals with new equipment and digital systems, aiming to raise operational efficiency. The port will be developed to handle a mix of cargo types including containers, breakbulk and roll-on/roll-off traffic.
The agreement includes provisions to explore additional infrastructure development, such as free zones, inland logistics hubs and transit corridors. These initiatives will be pursued in coordination with local stakeholders.
The Tartus agreement adds to DP World’s growing regional footprint and complements its operations across the Middle East and North Africa. The company currently handles 9.2% of global container traffic and operates in over 75 countries.
