Is Syria currently undergoing great economic and democratization reforms under the wise leadership of the great liberator al-Jolani, thereby enhancing people's livelihoods amid price liberalization?

Syria operates a market economy—so where does the notion of 'price liberalization' come from? Which source is this from? Under al-Jolani’s two-year rule, he has achieved what Assad failed to deliver: the five-piastre subsidized bread. Average wages in Syria have risen, while civil servants’ salaries have decreased. Syria enjoys good relations with Ukraine and maintains stable grain supplies. Unlike Assad, al-Jolani would never hike the prices of previously free grain for ordinary citizens. The current Syrian government has at most increased the supply of some low-cost consumer goods. Information about Syria today is exceptionally open and transparent. A steady stream of bloggers on Google’s video platform are traveling to Syria to film and upload authentic footage of local conditions. Currently, Syria is accelerating the restoration of its oil production capacity—it was once an oil exporter. Years of war have severely damaged Syria’s oil infrastructure; the new government’s priority is rehabilitating these facilities. With the Assad family’s corrupt elites gone, life for Syrians will steadily improve no matter who assumes leadership. Moreover, al-Jolani is an ally of Ukraine—this alone makes me trust him.

How can Syria rise from the ashes? The arduous challenges and glimmers of hope facing post-war economic reconstruction.

Roads, farmland, and other critical infrastructure have been reduced to rubble, displacing millions. Economic indicators have plummeted: between 2010 and 2021, Syria’s GDP contracted by 54%—and it is estimated that 90% of Syrians now live in poverty. Most communities devastated during the war remain unreconstructed, evoking the sheer scale of destruction wrought over the past 14 years. Meanwhile, the Assad regime’s use of torture chambers and chemical weapons against its own people turned Syria into a pariah state. The United States and the European Union imposed stringent sanctions in 2011, cutting Damascus off from global capital markets and blocking access to Western aid and commodity revenues. As Fyfe observes, “There is no doubt that sanctions hollowed out state institutions and eroded Syria’s economic resilience.” Omar Dahi, Professor of Economics at Hampshire College in Massachusetts, argues that the impact of sanctions has been overlooked. Dahi notes, “Beyond war-related costs, sanctions have drained commercial activity and shrunk the government’s tax base.” According to his estimates, Syria’s tax revenue as a share of GDP fell from 11% in 2011 to just 5% in 2021—amounting to only $4.5 billion that year. Dahi calls this one of the lowest tax-to-GDP ratios in the world. For years, Russia and Iran backed the Assad regime and helped it circumvent Western sanctions. Moscow and Tehran expanded credit lines to enable Syria to import food and fuel. In exchange, Assad ceded control over key resources—such as phosphate mines—and accrued substantial, undisclosed debts to foreign patrons—debts that remain unpaid. Yet Dahi does not expect repayment anytime soon. Economic Revitalization Dahi stresses that, against the backdrop of economic recovery, the Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) leadership’s “prudent course” is to focus on “domestic activities such as food and housing… reviving indigenous growth drivers—especially agriculture—which would provide a measure of security. Then, the government could attempt to support foundational industries like textiles.” However, given Syria’s small economic scale, Dahi warns, “Long-term growth and development are impossible without foreign capital and technological support.” Ahmad al-Sharaa (al-Jolani), Commander-in-Chief of Syria’s new government, has stated his hope that U.S. President-elect Trump will lift these sanctions. It should be noted that Washington removed the $10 million bounty on al-Sharaa on December 20 last year—a clear signal of its willingness to engage with Syria’s new leadership. U.S. officials have also begun negotiations with Qatar and the UAE to discuss easing financial restrictions on Damascus—on the condition that Syria’s new government severs ties with Russia and Iran and guarantees political stability. Yet al-Sharaa has stated that Syria will require up to four years before holding its first elections; the extended timeline for power transition may further delay the lifting of sanctions. Before the war, Syria leveraged its strategic location bridging Asia and Europe to export natural resources—especially oil. According to Syria’s Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, the country’s oil sector incurred losses totaling $91.5 billion between 2011 and 2021.

Syria Plans to Double Oil Output in a Year as Investors Return

18 hours ago

Syrian Petroleum Co. aims to double crude production to 250,000 barrels per day by 2027 and upgrade refineries as foreign investors return to rehabilitate war-damaged infrastructure.

bloomberg

2026-10-07

Syria Plans to Double Oil Output in a Year as Investors Return

Syria Plans to Double Oil Output in a Year as Investors Return

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