The Syrian Future Movement is following with great interest the proceedings of the first Syrian-Emirati Investment Forum, hosted by the Syrian Investment Authority at the Conference Palace in Damascus, under the patronage of the President of the Syrian Arab Republic, Mr. Ahmed al-Sharaa. The forum, which is taking place on May 11 and 12, 2026, is being attended by a high-level Emirati delegation headed by the UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, and includes the Chairman of the General Authority for Islamic Affairs, Endowments and Zakat, Omar Habtoor Al Derei, as well as a number of prominent Emirati businessmen and investors, members of the Syrian community residing in the UAE, and approximately 1,500 Syrian government and economic figures.
Based on the Syrian Future Movement’s methodology of “supporting national solutions without endorsing any party unconditionally, and criticizing what threatens the state-building process without hostility,” this statement is issued to assess this important economic step, stemming from its responsibility to monitor the development process and strengthen economic governance.
First: The Syrian Future Movement highly values this forum as a reflection of a strategic shift in the development of the national economy. The Syrian Future Movement also commends this historic step, which reflects a clear shift in the nature of Syrian-Emirati relations and signals a move from a phase of anticipation and cooperation to building a long-term strategic partnership based on economic integration and shared interests. The forum’s dialogue sessions also explored opportunities for cooperation in a wide range of developmental and productive sectors, including energy, aviation, transportation, logistics, tourism, real estate development, financial services, education, healthcare, technology and digital transformation, food security, and agriculture, reflecting a shared desire to build a diversified and integrated economy.
Secondly, the Syrian Future Movement praises the tangible measures and attractive incentives announced by Syrian authorities to support this path. The movement specifically commends the fundamental reforms presented by the head of the Syrian Investment Authority, Talal Hilali, aimed at improving the business environment and attracting investments, which provide a solid foundation for translating the forum’s understandings into concrete projects.
Among the most prominent of these measures are: activating the “one-stop shop” concept to expedite licensing procedures, enabling foreign investors to fully own projects without requiring a local partner, along with extensive tax exemptions (reaching 100% in the health and agriculture sectors, and 80% in the industrial sector), and guaranteeing the free transfer of profits and capital.
The Syrian Future Movement also commends Mr. Hilali’s announcement regarding the new international arbitration system for resolving investment disputes, which is being developed in cooperation with international arbitration centers. This system will contribute to providing a secure and modern legal environment for investors’ rights.
Third: The Syrian Future Movement reiterates its firm positions supporting the strengthening of governance and transparency in the investment sector, which have been published on its official website.
In this context, the Syrian Future Movement reiterates its previous research and studies, which have consistently called for the development of a transparent and institutionally-based investment environment, including:
The statement on “Preparing Comprehensive and Accurate Damage Assessment Reports” (dated February 24-25, 2026), which emphasized the importance of unifying operational frameworks to ensure transparency during the reconstruction phase, a principle that also applies to the investment process.
The analytical study “Reconstruction Priorities in Syria” (dated December 19, 2024), which advocated for building genuine partnerships based on the exchange of interests and expertise, not merely the provision of funding.
Fourth: The Syrian Future Movement emphasizes the importance of completing the reform and governance process to ensure that agreements are translated into tangible investments. While appreciating this significant direction, the Syrian Future Movement also reiterates that an attractive investment environment requires a comprehensive system of transparency and anti-corruption measures.
In this context, the forum highlighted the importance of activating governance, with the Director General of the Investment Authority emphasizing that “the next phase will depend on practical implementation, transparency, and swift decision-making.” This is a commendable and encouraging approach that we must all embrace and translate into clear oversight policies.
Fifth: The Syrian Future Movement presents a set of recommendations to ensure these efforts translate into successful and sustainable investment partnerships. Based on the Movement’s constructive oversight methodology, it recommends the following:
- Establishing an independent national oversight mechanism to supervise the implementation of investment procedures and exemptions. This mechanism should include representatives from the government, civil society, and the private sector to ensure transparency and monitor the impact of incentives on actual development.
- Developing a unified and public digital portal to document all incoming and domestic investments. This portal should include data on licensed projects, their completion rates, operational capacity, and granted exemptions, guaranteeing the public’s right to information and monitoring.
- Linking new investments to clear national training and development programs, with the aim of transferring expertise, increasing local added value, and focusing on creating quality job opportunities for Syrians in all governorates.
- Addressing the development gap between governorates by directing investment incentives towards less developed areas and ensuring that investments are not concentrated solely in the capital and coastal regions, in accordance with a clear national development plan.
In conclusion, the Syrian Future Movement reiterates its welcome and full support for these important strategic partnerships, which open new horizons for cooperation and development, and highly values the UAE’s support for Syria and its people during this critical period.
We believe that the forum’s success in translating words into action begins with good governance, continues with a commitment to transparency, and grows with ongoing oversight from civil society organizations to achieve our people’s aspirations for a strong and sustainable national economy.
The Syrian Future Movement will remain committed to… This is the meme of this path, supporting, criticizing, and following.
