Syria and Saudi Arabia Sign Defence Deal and $403 Million in Loans
Syria and Saudi Arabia have signed a defence cooperation agreement in Riyadh, alongside a set of economic deals. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman oversaw the signings, according to Al Jazeera.
The defence agreement was signed between the two countries' defence ministries. Syria's Foreign Ministry described it as the most notable of the agreements but did not disclose its terms.
The financial package centres on $403 million in loans from the Saudi Fund for Development, provided under six agreements with Syria's Finance Ministry. The loans are on concessional terms, meaning softer conditions than typical commercial lending. Syria's state news agency SANA reported that the loan agreements were signed in Riyadh on November 4.
Al Jazeera reported the purposes of five of the loans. Saudi Arabia agreed to provide $100 million to rebuild and equip damaged healthcare facilities in Syria, and $60 million to repair damaged housing. It also agreed to a $105 million loan to strengthen civil defence, meaning emergency response and protection of civilians, and a $90 million loan to rehabilitate the Aleppo thermal power plant. A further $30 million is earmarked for developing drinking water systems in Damascus and Idlib.
The two countries also signed a memorandum of understanding on industrial cooperation, a document setting out intended collaboration, and two more on agriculture and environmental protection.
The visit was Sharaa's second to Riyadh in less than a month. He and the crown prince last met in the Saudi capital on October 6, 2026. SANA reported that Sharaa visited Saudi Arabia on November 4 and met the crown prince in Riyadh that day.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said discussions were under way to evaluate Syria's entry into the Mecca alliance, a grouping of Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan.
The signings follow earlier reporting on closer ties. In October, Reuters reported, citing unnamed sources, that Syria was considering providing military assistance to Saudi Arabia amid an escalating war against the Iran-backed Houthis, a group in Yemen. In February, Saudi Arabia launched an investment fund in Syria committing 7.5 billion Saudi riyals ($2 billion) to develop two airports, Reuters reported at the time.
