Sovereignty Support Movement Sovereignty for West Asia
from the News Desk at The Cradle, June 2, 2025
Syria is currently being granted relief from over a decade of western sanctions and Arab isolation
Saudi Arabia and Qatar have announced a joint three-month financial support package for public sector workers in Syria, as part of Gulf efforts to revitalize the country’s ravaged economy.
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the State of Qatar announce the provision of joint financial support to public sector workers in the Syrian Republic for a period of three months,” Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
“This support comes within the framework of the two brotherly countries’ keenness to support the stability of the Syrian Arab Republic, alleviate human suffering, and promote the interests of the brotherly Syrian people, based on the fraternal ties and historical relations that unite the peoples of the three countries,” the agency added.
The support comes as Syria is being gradually granted relief from 15 years of western sanctions, which were imposed on the government of former president Bashar al-Assad – who was deposed in December last year.
The UK and EU have recently announced the lifting of sanctions on Syria. At the same time, however, new EU sanctions were recently imposed on individuals and factions in the country’s Defense Ministry, which played a role in the massacre of thousands of Alawite civilians in March.
Washington has also announced its intention to lift sanctions on Syria, and has signaled that these efforts will begin via initial waivers, given the complex layers of sanctions and years of legislation that cannot be rescinded overnight.
Qatar has also promised to revitalize the Syrian energy sector, announcing in March that the Gulf state will be providing Syria with natural gas.
Last month, Syria’s $15 million debt to the World Bank was cleared by Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
“We are pleased that the clearance of Syria’s arrears will allow the World Bank Group to re-engage with the country and address the development needs of the Syrian people. After years of conflict, Syria is on a path to recovery and development,” the bank said in mid-May.
On Sunday, a technical delegation from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) visited Syria for the first time in 18 years.
The mission, which will be in Syria for the next four days, aims to provide advice on financial and monetary reform, statistical modernization, and efforts to combat money laundering.
Jihad Azour, Director of the IMF department in the region, is expected to visit Damascus at the end of June after receiving a final report, according to Syrian state news agency SANA.
