Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa declared that Syria has been “born again” following the lifting of international sanctions, outlining plans to rebuild the country’s battered economy and attract billions of dollars in foreign investment.

Speaking Tuesday at the 2026 Arab Media Summit in Dubai, al-Sharaa said Syria had faced one of the world’s most extensive sanctions regimes, with some restrictions dating back to 1979.

He credited Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with lobbying President Trump to remove the sanctions, calling the decision a historic turning point for Syria.

Al-Sharaa said Syria’s economy was valued at approximately $60 billion in 2010 before falling to around $20 billion by 2024 following years of civil war and economic isolation.

The economy reportedly grew to $32 billion in 2025 and is expected to reach $50 billion this year. Al-Sharaa predicted that it would return to its 2010 level by 2027.

The Syrian government ultimately aims to expand the economy to approximately $200 billion over the next five to 10 years, provided international conditions remain stable.

Al-Sharaa said investors from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait are already entering the Syrian market. He cited planned investments by Emirati businessman Mohamed Alabbar and a DP World project at the Port of Tartus.

The Syrian president also promoted the country’s agricultural potential, claiming that Syria could produce enough food for between 70 million and 75 million people without advanced technology and more than 100 million with modern farming systems.

Addressing journalists at the summit, al-Sharaa urged the media to maintain credibility and avoid allowing political considerations to influence its reporting.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)