In late January of 2025, Syria’s new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, made his first foreign trip to meet the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), in Riyadh. This trip solidifies ties between the states to show Saudi support for Syria amid the new power transition. After 50 years of an oppressive regime and 14-years of Civil war, Syria is moving toward peace in the region.

The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) photographed al-Sharaa meeting MBS after he had been greeted by the Deputy Governor of the Riyadh Region Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz upon his landing at the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. Sharaa was also accompanied by Syria’s Foreign Minister, Asaad al-Shaibani. The meeting between the states was to strengthen fields of energy, technology, health, and education. Saudi Arabia is an important place for Syria, to be recognized and accepted by their leader. Sharaa stated that MBS had “a genuine desire to support Syria in building its future.” Their goal is to rebuild Syria’s damaged infrastructure, government, and other institutions. 

In recent months since the fall of Assad’s government, Saudi Arabia has taken measures to support the Syrian people, to promote stability and protect minorities in the region. Syria is slowly gaining support around the world in light of a new regime. To lift sanctions, and head towards recovery in the region after being dependent on Iran and Russia for over a decade. The people of Syria are getting a historic opportunity to build a stable, peaceful, and prosperous society. This can be achieved with the help of Arab nations and other nations to rebuild all that was lost in the Syrian civil war. 

Sharaa led the Syrian opposition back in December of 2024, to overthrow the regime of President Bashar al-Assad that quickly gained speed across the country. The war in Syria progressed for nearly 14-years, straining Arab and Western relations. The new administration under Sharaa is in search of regional and international recognition, in addition to fixing Western relations and sanctions on Syria to be removed. Assad had damaged relations between the West and the Arab world when in an alliance with Iran and Russia. Nonetheless, Sharaa has been associated with Al-Qaeda in the past and is facing some resistance, although the new leadership is shedding light on religious and ethnic minorities in the state and promoting economic integration. Progress was made when Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Fisal bin Farhan voiced that there was active dialogue between Europe and the United States to help lift economic sanctions imposed on Syria, after visiting Damascus last week. 

The first foreign trip by the new President of Syria to Saudi Arabia shows great strength and peace to the Syrian people. After years of unrest the state is undergoing a transition to becoming free and peaceful. Syria’s relationship with Saudi Arabia and surrounding Arab states is only the beginning.