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Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistics Services Saleh Al-Jasser and Syrian Minister of Transport Yarub Badr signed the four agreements during a ceremony in Damascus on Thursday, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency. The pacts comprise two memoranda of understanding on cooperation in land transport, railways and logistics together with separate accords on postal services and civil aviation. Al-Jasser, who led a delegation that included public and private sector officials, also held talks with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on expanding bilateral initiatives in the transport sector.
The two memoranda focus on capacity building, expertise exchange and technical studies that will support rehabilitation of Syrian roads and railway networks while stimulating trade flows, SANA reported. Syrian officials expressed interest in drawing on Saudi experience to develop operational frameworks, safety standards and digitalisation in both rail and road sectors. Badr noted that Saudi facilitation of visas for truck drivers would further ease movement of goods in both directions.
Syria’s 2,552-kilometre railway network has about half its routes out of service, Arab News figures show, highlighting the scale of reconstruction required after years of conflict. The agreements aim to address such infrastructure gaps through joint studies and training programmes that include localisation of related industries. Al-Jasser described the pacts to Al-Arabiya channel as important steps that support joint work, bilateral cooperation and exchange of expertise across the covered fields.
The deals arrive amid growing regional focus on alternative land and rail routes that can strengthen trade links between the region, Asia and Europe, according to a Saudi Gazette assessment. A day earlier Syria and Lebanon had agreed on a unified plan to develop cross-border road and rail connections, illustrating wider efforts to improve Levant connectivity. Saudi Arabia previously indicated through then-Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih that no ceiling exists on its potential investments in Syria.
Discussions during the visit also addressed development of maritime ports, logistics zones and dry ports with Syrian border and customs authorities, Asharq Al-Awsat reported. The framework established by the agreements is expected to facilitate trade, attract public-private partnerships and advance joint infrastructure projects. Al-Jasser concluded the visit after meetings that reviewed progress on these cooperative tracks.
