Latest news with #GeneralAuthorityforLandandSeaPorts
Arab Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Arab Times
Syria Enforces New Freight Ban on Egyptian and Saudi Vehicles
DAMUSCUS, July 15: The Syrian government has announced a ban on trucks originating from Egypt and Saudi Arabia from entering Syrian territory, citing the need to support local transport workers and enforce reciprocal trade practices. The decision, which will take effect on Sunday, July 20, was confirmed by Mazen Alloush, Director of Public Relations at the General Authority for Land and Sea Ports. Speaking to the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), Alloush stated that the move comes in response to longstanding demands by Syrian truck and refrigerated transport drivers who have called for more equitable treatment and improved conditions within the land transport sector. According to Alloush, trucks from Egypt and Saudi Arabia will no longer be allowed to cross into Syrian territory and will be required to complete cargo transfer operations at the border ports through which goods enter the country. The measure, he added, is part of a broader effort to respond to the continued restrictions placed on Syrian trucks by Egypt and Saudi Arabia. 'This ban comes in light of the ongoing prohibition against Syrian trucks entering those two countries, which contravenes the principle of reciprocity in trade and land transport,' Alloush said. He stressed that the Ports Authority remains committed to protecting the rights of workers in Syria's transport sector and will continue to work in coordination with relevant agencies to ensure fairness and equal treatment for Syrian freight operators.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Syria signs $800m Tartous port deal with UAE firm DP World
Syria has finalised an $800m agreement with Dubai-based DP World to redevelop its Tartous port in a bid to speed up post-war reconstruction. State news agency SANA said the deal was signed in Damascus on Sunday between DP World and the General Authority for Land and Sea Ports, in the presence of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Syrian officials described the deal as a key step towards modernising the country's logistics infrastructure. 'This strategic move will bolster our port operations and logistics services,' SANA quoted an unnamed official as saying. Since the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad in December, Syria's new leadership has been pushing to re-establish economic ties with international companies and bring the war-torn country back into the global market. Speaking after the signing, DP World CEO Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem said Syria's economic potential remained strong, noting the Tartous port could play a central role in reviving local industry. 'Syria possesses valuable assets,' he said, 'and Tartous is an essential hub for trade and exports. We aim to transform it into one of the world's leading ports.'DP World manages dozens of port facilities across Europe, Africa and Asia and has been expanding its reach in the Middle East. Qutaiba Badawi, who heads Syria's port authority, said the agreement marked more than just a commercial venture. 'We are laying the groundwork for a new era of maritime development, positioning Syria again on the international economic stage,' he said. The Tartous deal follows several high-profile contracts signed in recent months. In May, Damascus entered a 30-year agreement with French shipping company CMA CGM to operate Latakia port. That same month, Syria inked a $7bn energy deal with a coalition of Qatari, Turkish, and US firms to revive the country's power sector. Earlier this month, the United States said it will revoke its designation of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham as a 'foreign terrorist organization' as Washington softens its approach to post-war Syria. Last month, US President Donald Trump issued an executive order lifting several longstanding sanctions on Syria, which Washington said would support the country's reconstruction. The US Treasury noted the decision would ease restrictions on companies considered vital to Syria's rebuilding and governance. Western sanctions had hampered reconstruction efforts for years, further crippling an economy already shattered by more than a decade of civil war and human rights abuses under al-Assad's rule.
Daily Tribune
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Tribune
Syria signs $800 mn port deal with UAE-based company
Syria signed an $800 million deal with UAE-based company DP World yesterday to develop the port of Tartus, state media reported, as the new authorities continue their efforts to support post-war reconstruction. Following the toppling of longtime Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad in December, the new Islamist authorities have worked to reconnect the country to global companies and kickstart reconstruction after 14 years of civil war. 'In the presence of President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, an agreement was signed between the General Authority for Land and Sea Ports and DP World, valued at $800 million, as a strategic step aimed at enhancing port infrastructure and logistics services in Syria,' state-run news agency SANA said. Following the signing of the deal, DP World CEO Sultan Bin Sulayem said Syria's economy had 'significant assets, including the Port of Tartus, which represents an opportunity to transport and export many Syrian industries.' In a statement also shared by state media, he pledged to make Tartus 'one of the best ports in the world.' DP World operates dozens of marine and inland ports and terminals globally, particularly in Asia, Africa, and Europe. The Syrian civil war devastated the country's infrastructure, and the new authorities hope to use the lifting of Western sanctions to attract investments and fuel reconstruction efforts. Qutaiba Badawi, head of the General Authority for Land and Sea Ports, said the parties were 'not merely signing a technical agreement, but we are laying the foundation for a new phase of field and maritime work in Syria, repositioning ourselves on the regional and international economic map.' In May, Damascus signed a 30-year contract with French shipping giant CMA CGM to develop and run the port of Latakia. That same month, Syria signed a $7 billion energy deal with a consortium of Qatari, Turkish, and US companies as part of efforts to revive its crippled power sector.
Arabian Post
3 days ago
- Business
- Arabian Post
DP World Secures 30‐Year Deal to Revitalise Tartus Port
DP World has finalised a 30‑year concession worth US $800 million to modernise and operate the port of Tartus on Syria's Mediterranean coast, as per official statements issued on 13 July 2025. The agreement, inked in Damascus between DP World and Syria's General Authority for Land and Sea Ports, was witnessed by Syrian President Ahmed al‑Sharaa, along with DP World's Chairman and Group CEO Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem and Qutaiba Ahmed Badawi, chairman of the port authority. The deal follows a memorandum of understanding signed in May, and comes in the wake of Washington's recent move to lift US sanctions on Syria, which paved the way for renewed international investment. DP World will fund and execute significant upgrades at Tartus, Syria's second‑largest port, enhancing its capacity to handle containers, roll‑on/roll‑off and breakbulk cargo, under a build‑operate‑transfer model fully owned by the company. Sultan bin Sulayem highlighted the strategic importance of the port, calling it 'a vital gateway' to Southern Europe, the Middle East and North Africa that can support resilient supply chains and spur regional economic stability. Qutaiba Ahmed Badawi described the agreement as 'an important step forward' in modernising trade infrastructure, supporting Syria's reconstruction and creating opportunities for its people. ADVERTISEMENT The pact includes plans to build industrial zones, free‑trade areas and logistics corridors linked to the port, signalling a broader vision to diversify Syria's economic base and integrate it more deeply into global trade networks. DP World operating in over 75 countries and handling approximately 9.2 per cent of global container traffic, brings significant expertise to the project. The agreement follows the termination earlier this year of a 49‑year commercial lease previously held by a Russian firm, cancelled by Syria's new government in January. That move paved the way for the port's complete nationalisation and cleared the path for this new international partnership. While Syria retains the Russian naval base in Tartus, civilian port operations were reverted to state control before the DP World deal was confirmed. Commercial observers highlight the significance of this development for Syria's reconstruction efforts. Gulf News described the agreement as 'a major step in Syria's post‑war reconstruction'. Al Jazeera noted that the investment was part of a series of high‑profile contracts by the new government following Washington's easing of sanctions. Syria's ambition to attract foreign capital is further evidenced by previous agreements this year, including a 30‑year deal with French shipping giant CMA CGM to operate the port of Latakia, and a US $7 billion coalition-led energy sector pact. Critics caution that success hinges on political stability, reconstruction transparency, and effective governance. However, DP World's emphasis on digital infrastructure, modern cargo‑handling systems and global trade linkages suggests a strategic approach targeting efficiency gains and sustainable economic activity. The agreement marks the most substantial foreign investment Syria has secured since the end of the Assad-led conflict era and represents a significant shift toward reintegration into regional and international trade frameworks.
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Syria signs $800m port deal with DP World
Terminal tractors line up to load containers into a cargo ship at DP World's fully automated Terminal 2 at Jebel Ali Port in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, December 27, 2018. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE Syria signed a $800 million deal with UAE-based company DP World on Sunday to develop the port of Tartus, state media reported, as the new authorities continue their efforts to support post-war reconstruction. "In the presence of President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, an agreement was signed between the General Authority for Land and Sea Ports and DP World, valued at $800 million, as a strategic step aimed at enhancing port infrastructure and logistics services in Syria," state-run news agency SANA said. Following the signing of the deal, DP World CEO Sultan Bin Sulayem said Syria's economy had "significant assets, including the Port of Tartus, which represents an opportunity to transport and export many Syrian industries". In a statement also shared by state media, he pledged to make Tartus "one of the best ports in the world".
