Ahmad Al-Sharaa expresses confidence in Syria's revival at Arab Media Summit

Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa has highlighted how the country has transformed from being a "centre of conflicts into a centre of stability and a connecting point for investment and trade".

During his keynote address on the opening day of the Arab Media Summit, Al-Sharaa highlighted that Syria "has lived through decades of destruction and wars, and our goal today is to stabilise our country in the region".

Despite fears that the regional conflict could "negatively impact (its) development plans", he is hopeful that the Arab leaders will continue to step up efforts towards regional stability.

Syria, Al-Sharaa added, is in a transitional phase and is looking to "shift towards an open and free economy". 

With the lifting of international sanctions, the leader is confident that the country will rebuild its economy to reach $50billion in 2026.  "Our programmes and projects aspire to reach $200 billion within the next 5–10 years," he added.

Al-Sharaa noted that Syria's "strategic location connecting East to West" has helped bring in investments, with "massive projects underway in real estate and tourism sectors".

He claimed "Syria is qualified to meet the region's food needs and bolster food security", adding that the country "currently has a food surplus, and with the availability of modern technologies, it will reach the capacity to feed 100 million people".

The Syrian leader also took the opportunity to thank His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, for his generosity and "true brotherhood", with a special mention of the Global Ports Dubai's investment in the strategic Port of Tartus. "Stability of Syria is the stability of the entire region," he added.

Arab Media Summit

Running until September 17, the 24th edition of the Arab Media Summit will be the largest in its history, with more than 175 sessions and over 400 speakers.

The event brings together senior government officials, media leaders and industry professionals from around the world to discuss the key forces shaping the future of media. 

The summit will feature eight forums and celebrate media excellence through three major awards: the Arab Media Award, Ibda’a, the Arab Youth Media Award, and the Arab Social Media Influencers Award.

This year’s agenda will explore key dynamics driving the future of media, including artificial intelligence, digital transformation, emerging technologies, content creation, social media, broadcasting, journalism, and evolving audience trends.