The Syrian Ministry of Energy seeks over $30 billion for rehabilitating the oil, mineral, electricity, and water sectors.
Electricity demands urgent attention, needing $10 billion for rebuilding generation plants, transmission lines, and metering systems.
Sanctions lifted in June 2025 have allowed Syria to re-enter the global market, with the first crude shipment in 14 years.
Major agreements include a $7 billion (£5.7 billion) power generation project with Qatar’s UCC Holding and an international consortium for building eight new plants.
Ahmed Sleiman, the ministry’s finance director, says, “Many meetings have taken place, and we hope that these investments will materialise very soon.”
Syria is seeking more than $30 billion to fully rehabilitate the country’s oil, mineral, electricity and water sectors, a senior official has said.
Ahmed Sleiman, director of communications for the Ministry of Energy, said the electricity sector alone demands urgent attention, requiring an estimated $10 billion.
“The electricity sector needs a complete overhaul, including transmission lines, distribution lines, meter installations, and power generation plants,” he told The National during the Adipec annual global energy summit.
Syria’s delegation included Minister of Energy Mohammed Al Bashir, who was appointed in March. A former prime minister of the country, Mr Al Bashir met regional and global leaders to discuss partnerships and investment opportunities.
The delegation held a round table this week with industry leaders from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the US and Europe at The Future of Energy in Syria event in Abu Dhabi, to promote greater co-operation.
“We met with several companies, including Emirati, international, and local firms. All of them expressed their readiness to invest in Syria,” Mr Sleiman said.
“The discussions focused on infrastructure maintenance and development in the oil and electricity sectors, as well as water infrastructure.”
Big tech meets big oil as AI takes centre stage at Adipec
New targets
Syria’s electricity infrastructure was severely damaged over the past 14 years of civil war resulting in degraded grids, worn-out plants and extensive fuel shortages.
More than 70 per cent of power plants and transmission lines have sustained significant damage, and the national grid capacity has shrunk by more than 75 per cent, leaving many Syrians without reliable electricity, according to a UN Development Programme report in February.
This had previously left about 88.4 per cent of Syrians with access to some level of electricity according to the latest reliable figures collated by the World Bank in 2023.
Production of oil and gas, which accounted for a fourth of government revenue, declined significantly since the onset of the conflict in 2011, causing severe deficits, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).
Syria, formerly the eastern Mediterranean’s leading oil and natural gas producer, was barred from exporting oil and gas under US sanctions that took effect in April 2011.
Damascus was no longer to able to export its 380,000 barrels per day of oil. Current crude production is at about 120,000 bpd, according to the Syrian ministry.
Syria also used to export 316 million cubic feet per day cf/d (8.9 million cubic metres per day) of natural gas. It now produces about 7 million cm/d according to the ministry.
“Our target is 22 million cm/d [in order] to supply power turbines with 100 per cent of the required power,” Mr Sleiman said.
The country also aims to return to its pre-war levels of oil production.
“Syria has more than 2,500 wells that need rehabilitation to bring production back to [more than] 400,000 bpd,” said Manaf Arnous, chief executive of UAE-based oil field services company Damson Energy.
Since sanctions on Syria were formally lifted by the US in June, a move that took effect in July of this year, the country has intensified efforts to return to the global market.
In September, the country exported its first officially recognised crude consignment in 14 years, shipping 600,000 barrels of heavy crude from the historic port of Tartus.
Syria’s geographic position once made it a vital energy crossroads between Europe and the east.
The country received gas through the Arab Gas Pipeline (AGP), and oil through the now defunct Kirkuk–Baniyas pipeline, which moved crude from Iraq’s Kurdistan region.
“Syria plans to revive these two important pipelines,” Mr Sleiman told The National about the latter two pipelines that have been out of commission since 2003 and the 1980s respectively.
“There have been several discussions regarding the Arab Gas Pipeline, but so far nothing is clear about it,” said .
In March, Qatar pledged to supply natural gas to Syria through Jordan, using the Arab Gas pipeline.
“We are currently working on the [AGP] pipeline connecting Jordan and Syria. This pipeline is functioning well, and we imported natural gas through it,” Mr Sleiman said.
“We are now maintaining and fully upgrading it within Syria. It has also been connected to the Republic of Turkey.”
Turkey began supplying gas to Syria through a swap agreement with Azerbaijan from August 2. Ankara said it would supply about 6 million cm/d of gas in a deal financed by Doha.
Challenges Ahead
The gap in raising the $30 billion required to meet Syria’s energy rehabilitation remains wide.
A $146 million grant issued by the World Bank in June intends to help Damascus restore affordable, reliable, electricity to support economic recovery.
It aims to focus on the rehabilitation of high-voltage lines and strengthen grid reliability under the World Bank’s Syria Emergency Electricity Project (SEEP). By linking to existing 400 kV lines connecting Syria with Jordan and Turkey, the project will be sufficient to make the grid connection “will be sufficient” to restore power, said Mr Sleiman.
Yet the World Bank grant, while a positive step, is modest compared to the tens of billions envisaged by the ministry, and the implementation is not immediate according to the senior official.
“Procedures for this grant are somewhat lengthy,” he said, and in the meantime they are looking for other partners and working with neighbours to bring in capital and connectivity.
Mr Sleiman voiced confidence that investments lie in the country’s near future.
“Many meetings have taken place, and we hope that these investments will materialise very soon and benefit our people in Syria.”
He said discussions included firms such as US-based SLB, Halliburton, Baker Hughes, Hunting Energy, and UK-based GulfSand Petroleum. Others were Chevron, BP, TotalEnergies and Shell.
UAE-based companies represented included Damson Energy, Dragon Oil (Enoc), Crescent Petroleum, Taqa and Petromal.
Regional participants included Saudi Arabia’s Aquapower and Saudi Energy, alongside Doha Delta Wellhead of Qatar and Petroleum Barrel.
Mr Sleiman said these discussions were “fruitful” and expressed optimism that the engagements would soon lead to tangible partnerships.
“Whether it’s a day, a month or even next year, the visits from these companies will begin,” said Mr Suleiman.
He spoke against the backdrop of a flurry of high-profile deals in Syria’s energy sector. In late May 2025, the Syrian government signed a memorandum of understanding with a consortium led by Qatar’s UCC Holding to develop major power generation projects worth approximately $7 billion. The agreement covers building four combined-cycle gas turbine power plants with a total capacity of 4,000 megawatts, plus a 1,000-megawatt solar plant in southern Syria.
On Thursday, Syria’s Ministry of Energy signed final concession agreements with an international consortium led by Urbacon Holding to build and operate eight new power plants totaling 5,000MW. The deal, involving partners from Turkey and the US, marks a key step in rebuilding Syria’s power infrastructure after years of decline.
Mr Sleiman said that investors from this week’s discussions have been invited to Syria “to see the situation on the ground, and God willing, things will be good.”
How being social media savvy can improve your well being
Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.
As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.
Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.
Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.
Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.
However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.
“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.
People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.
Ain Dubai in numbers
126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure
1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch
16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.
9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.
5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place
192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.
SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2-litre%204-cylinder%20petrol%20(V%20Class)%3B%20electric%20motor%20with%2060kW%20or%2090kW%20powerpack%20(EQV)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20233hp%20(V%20Class%2C%20best%20option)%3B%20204hp%20(EQV%2C%20best%20option)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20350Nm%20(V%20Class%2C%20best%20option)%3B%20TBA%20(EQV)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMid-2024%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ETBA%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Key facilities
Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
Premier League-standard football pitch
400m Olympic running track
NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
600-seat auditorium
Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
Specialist robotics and science laboratories
AR and VR-enabled learning centres
Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The five pillars of IslamHow to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Company%20profile
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More from Rashmee Roshan LallLexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Mohammed bin Zayed MajlisAPPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits
Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
Storage: 128/256/512GB
Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4
Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps
Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID
Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight
In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user’s top friends’ list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
Profile of VoucherSkout
Date of launch: November 2016
Founder: David Tobias
Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers
Sector: Technology
Size: 18 employees
Stage: Embarking on a Series A round to raise $5 million in the first quarter of 2019 with a 20 per cent stake
Investors: Seed round was self-funded with “millions of dollars”
What is tokenisation?
Tokenisation refers to the issuance of a blockchain token, which represents a virtually tradable real, tangible asset. A tokenised asset is easily transferable, offers good liquidity, returns and is easily traded on the secondary markets.
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Straightforward ways to reduce sugar in your family’s diet
Ban fruit juice and sodas
Eat a hearty breakfast that contains fats and wholegrains, such as peanut butter on multigrain toast or full-fat plain yoghurt with whole fruit and nuts, to avoid the need for a 10am snack
Give young children plain yoghurt with whole fruits mashed into it
Reduce the number of cakes, biscuits and sweets. Reserve them for a treat
Don’t eat dessert every day
Make your own smoothies. Always use the whole fruit to maintain the benefit of its fibre content and don’t add any sweeteners
Always go for natural whole foods over processed, packaged foods. Ask yourself would your grandmother have eaten it?
Read food labels if you really do feel the need to buy processed food
Eat everything in moderation
Brief scores:
England: 290 & 346
Sri Lanka: 336 & 243
NEW%20UTILITY%20POLICY%3A%20WHAT%20DOES%20IT%20REGULATE%3F
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Racecard
7pm: Abu Dhabi – Conditions (PA) Dh 80,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.30pm: Dubai – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,400m
8pm: Sharjah – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,600m
8.30pm: Ajman – Handicap (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 2,200m
9pm: Umm Al Quwain – The Entisar – Listed (TB) Dh132,500 (D) 2,000m
9.30pm: Ras Al Khaimah – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,600m
10pm: Fujairah – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,200m
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform’s annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
“We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country,” he said. “Quite why we’ve been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don’t know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat’s findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a “possible indicator of extremism” but it would not be banned.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Company%C2%A0profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ETuhoon%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EYear%20started%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJune%202021%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECo-founders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFares%20Ghandour%2C%20Dr%20Naif%20Almutawa%2C%20Aymane%20Sennoussi%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERiyadh%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Ehealth%20care%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESize%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E15%20employees%2C%20%24250%2C000%20in%20revenue%0D%3Cbr%3EI%3Cstrong%3Envestment%20stage%3A%20s%3C%2Fstrong%3Eeed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EWamda%20Capital%2C%20Nuwa%20Capital%2C%20angel%20investors%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The%20specs
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COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Letstango.com
Started: June 2013
Founder: Alex Tchablakian
Based: Dubai
Industry: e-commerce
Initial investment: Dh10 million
Investors: Self-funded
Total customers: 300,000 unique customers every month
Sweet%20Tooth
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