Saudi Arabia Reestablishes Ties with Syria: Historic Embassy Reopening in Damascus

Saudi Arabia Reopens Embassy in Damascus After 12 Years

Saudi Arabia has officially reopened its embassy in the Syrian capital, Damascus, after a 12-year closure since the start of the Syrian crisis.

Abdullah Al-Haris, Acting Charge d’Affaires of the Saudi Embassy in Syria, announced the official opening of the embassy in the presence of several Syrian government ministers and senior officials, as well as members of the accredited diplomatic corps and a group of notables and intellectuals.

Al-Haris added in his speech during the ceremony: “This day is an important moment in the history of relations between the two countries,” stressing “the sincerity of the embassy and its staff to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.”

Saudi Arabia appointed Faisal bin Saud al-Mufil as its ambassador to Syria, months after announcing the resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries, becoming the first Saudi ambassador since the embassy closed in 2012.

Last October, Saudi Arabia and Syria announced the reopening of their diplomatic missions, days after Damascus returned to the Arab League, and regular commercial flights between the two countries also resumed.

The two countries agreed to reopen economic cooperation avenues in June 2023, resume trade and investment activities and events between the two sides, enable investors to access investment opportunities available in the Kingdom and Syria, and establish an economic forum to increase trade balance between the two countries.

Both sides emphasized the need to exchange trade delegation visits, enable investors to access investment opportunities in Saudi Arabia and Syria, and establish economic forums to advance the path of economic cooperation between the two countries.