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Omar Hosari, head of Syria’s General Authority of Civil Aviation, held talks with Abdulaziz al-Duailej, president of the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation, in the Saudi capital. The discussions addressed regulation, safety standards, operational oversight, technical cooperation and institutional strengthening, Hosari told the Syrian Arab News Agency. The meeting forms part of Damascus’s drive to rebuild its civil aviation system and expand national capabilities in preparation for sector growth, according to the SANA report published on September 7.
Hosari said the two sides examined ways to activate an existing open-skies agreement that would permit airlines to add flights, expand capacity and open new routes according to demand and operational feasibility. Syrian authorities have invited Saudi aviation specialists to assess infrastructure and readiness at Deir Ezzor and Qamishli international airports, a move that could enable direct connections. The authority’s statement indicated the inspections represent a practical step toward realizing enhanced bilateral air links.
The September talks build on a bilateral air transport agreement that Hosari and Saudi Transport Minister Saleh bin Nasser al-Jasser signed in Damascus in August, the Syrian Arab News Agency reported. Earlier engagements included a February 2026 meeting in Damascus that reviewed accords for developing Aleppo International Airport and launching a low-cost carrier in partnership with Saudi airline Flynas. A December 2025 session in Riyadh had prepared the ground for a joint memorandum of understanding between the two civil aviation bodies, prior SANA dispatches show.
Syria’s aviation authority is pursuing governance reforms that include updating regulatory and legislative frameworks while separating oversight functions from airport and airline operations, Hosari stated. These adjustments aim to raise efficiency, guarantee independent supervision and bring the sector in line with international standards maintained by global regulatory bodies. The Syrian official described the changes as necessary for long-term sector viability.
The latest discussions continue a pattern of aviation collaboration that has intensified since the normalization of ties between Damascus and Riyadh. Saudi Cabinet approval of a related memorandum of understanding in April 2026 provided additional momentum for expertise sharing and service improvements, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency. Both sides have signaled that the accumulating agreements will support expanded transport and trade activity.
Syria’s civil aviation network contracted sharply during the years of conflict, with many facilities damaged and international services curtailed, the Syrian Arab News Agency has noted in coverage of reconstruction efforts. The country currently maintains operations at several international airports with traffic recovering gradually as political and economic conditions evolve. Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation, which oversees one of the region’s busiest networks, has been positioned as a source of technical guidance under the developing partnership framework.
