UAE-Syria non-oil trade rises to record $1.4bn

DAMASCUS: Trade between the United Arab Emirates and Syria more than doubled in 2025, a UAE minister said on Tuesday, as officials from both countries met at an investment forum in Damascus that underscored improving ties between the two states.

UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade Thani Al Zeyoudi told the first Syrian-Emirati Investment Forum that non-oil trade between the UAE and Syria climbed to a record $1.4 billion in 2025. He said that represented an increase of 132% from the previous year.

According to Al Zeyoudi, the rise in trade points to room for further expansion in commercial relations between the two countries. His remarks came during a two-day event focused on investment opportunities and economic cooperation.

The Syrian and Emirati sides also reached a number of preliminary understandings covering dozens of investment projects during the forum. The projects span several sectors, including tourism, construction, infrastructure, agriculture, aviation and logistics.

Investment forum highlights warming ties

The forum marked the first Syrian-Emirati Investment Forum and was presented as a sign of rapidly warming relations between Damascus and Abu Dhabi. The gathering brought together the two sides as they explored ways to broaden trade and investment links.

The UAE has been slower than Saudi Arabia and Qatar in deepening engagement with Syria’s new government, which is led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former al Qaeda commander. Even so, Tuesday’s forum indicated that ties between the UAE and Syria are moving forward.

Al Zeyoudi’s comments highlighted the scale of the recent increase in bilateral trade, while the preliminary agreements suggested that both sides are looking beyond current trade volumes toward longer-term investment cooperation.

The sectors identified at the forum point to a broad agenda, ranging from transport and logistics to agriculture and tourism. Construction and infrastructure were also among the areas listed for potential investment, reflecting the scope of the discussions held during the two-day meeting.

The announcement of record non-oil trade and the signing of preliminary agreements came as the UAE continues to shape its relationship with the Syrian leadership. While other Gulf states such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar have moved more quickly in expanding ties with the new administration in Damascus, the latest forum showed the UAE stepping up its economic engagement with Syria.