UAE accelerates investment in Syria, targeting trade corridors

The UAE is accelerating its push into Syria, treating the country as a strategic gateway for expanding trade networks and regional influence.

Central to this strategy are Syrian ports, particularly Tartus and Baniyas, which are increasingly viewed as alternatives to Gulf maritime routes and as anchors in a wider logistics corridor linking the Eastern Mediterranean to Europe and Iraq.

The approach is being pursued through large-scale capital commitments, including an estimated $11 billion investment by Emaar Properties in Damascus and coastal projects, as well as a $800 million port expansion deal by Dubai-owned DP World at Tartus, Foreign Policy reports.