CAIRO: Saudi Arabia and Qatar are to settle Syria’s outstanding arrears of around $15 million to the World Bank, both countries said in a joint statement, paving the way for the approval of millions of dollars in grants for reconstruction and to support the country’s paralysed public sector.

The plans would be the first known instance of Saudi Arabia providing financing for Syria since rebels toppled Bashar al-Assad last year.

“This commitment will pave the way for the World Bank Group to resume support and operations in Syria after a suspension of more than fourteen years,” Riyadh and Doha said in the statement. “It will also unlock Syria’s access to financial support in the near term for the development of critical sectors.”

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2025