Syria
The Syrian presidency announced on Saturday that President Ahmad al-Sharaa will travel to Kuwait on Sunday for an official visit, responding to an invitation from Emir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
The visit is aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and enhancing cooperation in political and economic fields.
According to Syria’s state news agency SANA, the trip is part of efforts to “reinforce fraternal relations and bilateral coordination between Syria and Kuwait, and to explore avenues of joint cooperation across political and economic domains, in a way that serves the interests of both brotherly peoples and supports joint Arab action.”
This will be Sharaa’s first visit to Kuwait since assuming the presidency in January 2025.
It is his seventh to an Arab state and ninth internationally, following recent trips to Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, the UAE, Turkey, Bahrain, and France. The visits form part of a diplomatic campaign aimed at re-establishing Syria’s regional role following years of isolation and conflict.
These developments come just six months after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime on 8 December 2024.
In parallel with Sharaa’s Kuwait visit, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan arrived in Damascus on Saturday, leading a high-level economic delegation. According to the Saudi Foreign Ministry, the visit aims to support Syria’s stability and boost its struggling economy. The delegation includes senior officials from the Saudi Ministries of Finance and Investment, reflecting a strong economic focus.
The Saudi foreign minister said in a joint press conference with his Syrian counterpart Asaad al-Shibani that the kingdom will offer with Qatar joint financial support to state employees in Syria.
A brief statement from Riyadh noted that bin Farhan would also meet with President Al-Sharaa to discuss enhancing bilateral relations, “particularly in the areas of economic and investment cooperation”.
Syrian newspaper Al-Watan reported that the visit is aimed at “developing investments and increasing trade between the two countries, in a way that creates job opportunities for the Syrian people on their own land and ensures sustainable livelihoods”.
Saudi media described the visit as part of Riyadh’s efforts to turn its political support into “tangible steps on the ground”.
According to Asharq TV, this includes Saudi efforts to ease Western sanctions on Syria. The channel claimed progress was made during the recent visit of US President Donald Trump to Riyadh, following lobbying by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, suggesting a new level of coordination between Washington and Riyadh over the Syrian file, despite past divergences.
The diplomatic flurry signals a wider Gulf and Arab re-engagement with Damascus under new leadership, as Sharaa seeks to rebuild Syria’s institutions and economy following almost 13 years of a devastating civil war.
