Syria — Gulf investors eye a transit corridor to North Africa

Traffic at Syrian ports has risen at least 25% since March 2026, according to data from Syria's General Authority for Borders and Customs cited by Global Finance (22 September 2026). In the first half of the year, 945 ships carrying 8 million tons of cargo passed through the country's ports.

The recovery is real but early: Benjamin Feve, senior consultant at Karam Shaar Advisory, told Global Finance that trade volumes are still only about one-fifth of pre-2011 levels.

• Port traffic up at least 25% since March 2026
• 945 ships and 8 million tons in H1 2026
• Volumes still about one-fifth of pre-2011 levels

Global Finance reports that DP World has invested USD 800 million in a 30-year concession at Tartus, where three harbour cranes delivered this summer are expected to raise cargo-handling capacity by 40%. CMA CGM holds a USD 265 million contract to modernise and run maritime infrastructure at Latakia.

Investors, the magazine says, are looking to build trade routes linking the Gulf countries and Iraq to North Africa and the wider Mediterranean through Syria's coast.

• DP World: USD 800M, 30-year Tartus concession
• New cranes: +40% handling capacity expected at Tartus
• CMA CGM: USD 265M Latakia contract

The CargoSyr 2026 transport, freight and logistics exhibition and forum ran at the Damascus Fairgrounds from 20 to 22 September, with about 300 officials and company representatives, including participants from Iraq, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Jordan (SANA, 22 September 2026).

Participants said closer integration of land and sea transport could cut costs and transit times, and named the obstacles: high operating costs, infrastructure needs, and border and customs procedures.

• Damascus Fairgrounds, 20–22 September 2026
• About 300 participants from six countries
• Focus: border procedures, customs coordination, infrastructure

For importers shipping into Syria, investment at Tartus and Latakia means more capacity and more carrier options over time. But the corridor is still at an early stage: Global Finance notes that many announced pledges have yet to materialise, so plan schedules and port choice shipment by shipment.

• More capacity expected at Tartus and Latakia
• Recovery still early — check schedules per shipment
• Choose the port by cargo, carrier and inland destination

MIDTRANS SHIPPING AND SERVICES runs sea freight into Latakia and Tartous, road freight from the UAE and the region, and customs clearance at destination, with offices in Damascus, Tartous and Latakia. Tell us your cargo and route, and we'll plan the gateway and schedule that fit.

• Global Finance — Gulf eyes Syrian trade corridor to North Africa · 2026-09-22
• SANA — CargoSyr 2026 highlights Syria's role in regional land and sea trade routes · 2026-09-22