Saudi Arabia and Qatar will provide joint financial support to Syrian state employees over three months, according to a joint statement released on May 31. The announcement came during a visit to Damascus by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud.
The statement did not specify the total size of the support package. It follows an earlier contribution made in April by both countries to settle Syria’s $15 million arrears to the World Bank.
Speaking at a press conference alongside Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani, Prince Faisal said the move is part of Saudi Arabia’s broader push to support Syria’s economic recovery. He noted the presence of a high-level Saudi economic delegation in Damascus, holding talks on cooperation in energy, agriculture, and infrastructure.
The visit comes weeks after the US lifted economic sanctions on Syria’s government. The European Union has also removed economic restrictions on Syria in recent weeks.
