DP World to breathe new life into Syria’s Port of Tartus

July 14, 2025, by Naida Hakirevic Prevljak

The UAE-based logistics heavyweight DP World has signed a 30-year concession agreement with Syria’s General Authority for Land and Sea Ports to develop and operate the Port of Tartus.

As part of the agreement, DP World plans to invest $800 million over the duration of the concession to upgrade the port’s infrastructure and position it as a ‘critical’ regional trade hub connecting Southern Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.

Following over a decade of conflict and long-standing underinvestment in trade infrastructure, the redevelopment of Tartus marks an important step in Syria’s economic reintegration. Structured as a build-operate-transfer (BOT) model and fully owned by DP World, the project will include new infrastructure, advanced cargo-handling equipment, and digital systems to improve efficiency across the port’s container and general cargo terminals.

“This agreement reflects our long-term commitment to enabling global trade and creating resilient supply chains. We see strong potential in Tartus to serve as a vital trade gateway and look forward to strengthening regional connectivity and economic opportunity through this investment. We believe in the power of trade to help drive long-term stability and prosperity for Syria and the region,” Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman and Group CEO of DP World, commented.

“This agreement marks an important step forward for the Port of Tartus and Syria’s maritime sector. Partnering with DP World will allow us to modernise and strengthen the efficiency of our trade infrastructure as we continue to rebuild key trade lanes, support the national economy and provide more opportunities for the Syrian people. The agreement reflects our shared vision to transform Tartus into a strategic gateway linking Syria with regional and international markets and it will pave the way for sustainable growth for years to come,” Qutaiba Ahmed Badawi, Chairman of Syria’s General Authority for Land and Sea Ports, said.

Located on Syria’s Mediterranean coast, Tartus is the country’s second-largest port and a key maritime gateway to trade routes across Europe, the Levant and North Africa. Its strategic position enhances regional connectivity, complementing existing routes through the Bosporus and Suez.

The redevelopment will enable Tartus to handle general cargo, containers, breakbulk, and roll-on/roll-off traffic, expanding Syria’s trade potential as the country continues to rebuild.

DP World, which is present in over 75 countries, also intends to explore opportunities to develop free zones, inland logistics hubs, and transit corridors in partnership with local stakeholders, supporting broader economic diversification and trade facilitation efforts.

In other news, French shipping giant CMA CGM recently signed a 30-year concession deal with the Syrian government. The agreement includes the construction of a new berth at the Port of Latakia and investing about $260 million in the next three decades, Reuters reported in May 2025.