UAE sees growing trade with Syria

Trade between the United Arab Emirates and Syria more than doubled in 2025 and has further to grow, a UAE minister said on Tuesday, addressing a Damascus investment forum that signalled rapidly warming ties between the states.

UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade Thani Al Zeyoudi told the first Syrian-Emirati Investment Forum that non-oil trade between the United Arab Emirates and Syria reached a record $1.4 billion in 2025, up 132% from the previous year. He said the increase opens prospects for expanding bilateral trade.

The Syrian and Emirati sides reached a series of preliminary agreements on dozens of investment projects in the tourism, construction, infrastructure, agriculture, aviation and logistics sectors during the two-day event.

The UAE has moved more slowly than Saudi Arabia and Qatar in expanding ties with the new Syrian government led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former al Qaeda commander.