Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa engages with leaders from the technology and investment sectors during a meeting in Damascus. (Photo: SANA)
DAMASCUS, Oct. 11, 2026 | Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa met technology experts, entrepreneurs, investors and researchers in Damascus to discuss developing the country’s technology sector and expanding cooperation with global technology companies, according to a report from the state news agency SANA published by Arab News. The report names no companies, deals or dollar figures.
The meeting took place at the People’s Palace. Attendees included Syrians working at international technology firms and Communications and Information Technology Minister Abdulsalam Haykal. The presidency said the discussion covered using Syrian expertise in artificial intelligence and digital transformation, supporting innovation and entrepreneurship, and broadening cooperation with international technology companies and institutions. The report contains no direct quotes from officials.
A Sector Still Being Rebuilt
The meeting fits a longer push by the transitional government to rebuild Syria’s technology sector. Haykal, who took office in March 2025, founded companies in Arabic media and Arabic natural language processing, including an AI firm called Lubelb, according to his Wikipedia profile. He listed responding to international sanctions and rapid technological change among his priorities when he was appointed.
At Syria HighTech in Damascus last November, which drew 225 local, Arab and international exhibitors, Haykal called the event a “real opportunity” for tech firms and stressed preparing the market as international companies return and open offices in the city, Middle East Tech Watch reported. The article described only exploratory partnership talks and no announced deals. In March, Syria’s communications ministry opened an international tender for a new 20-year mobile network license at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, according to MWC Barcelona. The ministry linked the tender to sanctions removal, reconstruction and telecom reform.
Promises Versus Contracts
Foreign money has followed, but much of it is early. Syria and Saudi Arabia signed multibillion-dollar investment agreements in February across aviation, energy, real estate and telecommunications, including nearly $1 billion in telecom investment, per Al Jazeera. Benjamin Feve, an analyst at the advisory firm Karam Shaar, said the deals matter “far more as a political signal than as an economic game changer” in the short term. Al Jazeera also noted the government has faced criticism for announcing development promises based on written pledges from foreign investors, many of which have not yet become binding contracts.
For global AI and cloud companies, the open questions are the ones the SANA report leaves out: which firms are involved, what rules will apply to data and infrastructure, and whether investment arrives as contracts. A meeting with diaspora engineers and investors signals intent, not an AI boom.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Syria’s president do to promote AI and technology?
President Ahmad Al-Sharaa met technology experts, entrepreneurs, investors and researchers at the People’s Palace in Damascus. The presidency said they discussed using Syrian AI expertise, supporting innovation and broadening cooperation with international technology companies. No companies or deals were named.
Which tech companies are investing in Syria?
The SANA report does not name any. Earlier reporting shows exploratory talks at the 2025 Syria HighTech exhibition and a 20-year mobile license tender opened in March 2026, but no specific AI or cloud deals were announced.