Qatar and Saudi Arabia pledge $89m to sustain essential services in Syria

Qatar and Saudi Arabia have pledged $89 million through UNDP to support salaries and essential public services in Syria for three months.

On the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) and the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), announced a landmark joint initiative to support the Syrian Arab Republic.

QFFD and SFD will provide $89 million through UNDP to help ensure the continuity of essential public services across Syria over three months.

In a statement, QFFD said the joint funding will provide vital budgetary support, enabling the payment of a portion of salaries for government employees responsible for delivering core services. The effort aims to preserve critical functions, strengthen social protection, foster stability, and promote inclusive socio-economic recovery.

Sultan bin Abdulrahman Al-Marshad, CEO of the Saudi Fund for Development, said the grant reflects the Kingdom’s leadership in enhancing development support for Syria.

He stressed the Fund’s commitment to working with partners “to foster growth and advance the development journey in Syria”.

Fahad Hamad Al-Sulaiti, Director General of the Qatar Fund for Development, said the initiative “reflects our shared vision to promote stability and build resilience for the brotherly Syrian people”.

“We firmly believe that investing in essential public services is not only an urgent humanitarian necessity, but also a strategic long-term investment in sustainable development, preserving human dignity, and laying the foundations for peace and prosperity,” he added.

Syrian Finance Minister Mohamad Yisr Barnieh thanked Qatar and Saudi Arabia for the initiative, which he said supports civil servant salaries and aligns with the government’s financial and economic reform efforts.

“This contribution conveys a message of support from the esteemed governments of Saudi Arabia and Qatar,” he said.

Haoliang Xu, Acting Administrator of UNDP, welcomed the funding as addressing immediate needs while building towards long-term recovery.

“The contributions we receive today will ensure the delivery of vital functions such as education and basic services, and start to rebuild trust,” he said.

Implementation of the initiative will be aligned with Syria’s national priorities, with the aim of contributing to resilient governance, inclusive economic growth, and sustainable development.