DP World to develop Syria's Tartus Port under landmark 30-year deal

DP World has signed a 30-year concession agreement with Syria's General Authority for Land and Sea Ports to develop and operate the Port of Tartus.

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As part of the agreement, DP World will invest $800 million over the duration of the concession to upgrade the port's infrastructure and position it as a critical regional trade hub connecting Southern Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.

The agreement was signed in Damascus in the presence of Ahmed Al-Sharaa, President of the Syrian Arab Republic, by Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman and Group CEO of DP World, and Qutaiba Ahmed Badawi, Chairman of General Authority for Land and Sea Ports.

Following over a decade of conflict and longstanding underinvestment in trade infrastructure, the redevelopment of Tartus marks an important step in Syria’s economic reintegration.

Structured as a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model and fully owned by DP World, the project will include new infrastructure, advanced cargo-handling equipment, and digital systems to improve efficiency across the port's container and general cargo terminals.

Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman and Group CEO of DP World, said, “This agreement reflects our long-term commitment to enabling global trade and creating resilient supply chains.

We see strong potential in Tartus to serve as a vital trade gateway and look forward to strengthening regional connectivity and economic opportunity through this investment. We believe in the power of trade to help drive long-term stability and prosperity for Syria and the region.”