Dubai-based logistics operator DP World has officially taken over the management of the port of Syria’s Tartus city, located on the Mediterranean coast. This was announced in a statement released by the UAE state-owned company.

In mid-May, the Syrian General Directorate of Ports and DP World signed a memorandum of understanding that provides for the development and operation of a multifunctional terminal in Tartus. The final agreement signed in July also includes joint efforts to create industrial clusters and free economic zones in the port.

According to DP World’s statement, the company is conducting a comprehensive assessment of the port’s infrastructure, including equipment, docks, warehouses, and logistics facilities. This phase includes a technical evaluation that will form the basis for preparing a detailed roadmap for the port’s reconstruction.

In the short term, the company will focus on land clearing as well as upgrading and replacing unloading equipment. The medium-term strategy includes modernizing port infrastructure, expanding storage capacities, and investing in the development of terminals for all types of cargo.

According to DP World, the implementation of these initiatives will enable the port of Tartus to become a maritime and logistics hub of the Eastern Mediterranean, significantly contributing to Syria’s recovery and economic development.

Before the overthrow of Syria’s former president Bashar al-Assad, this port was operated by the Russian company STG Engineering, which in 2019 had signed an investment agreement with Syria’s former government. The agreement had stipulated that the company would manage the port for 49 years and invest more than $500 million in its modernization. Syria’s new authorities, however, terminated this investment agreement in January.