Gulf states Saudi Arabia and Qatar declared they will pay off $15 million debted to the World Bank Group on behalf of the Syrian Interim Government. The payment of this debt will allow Syria to obtain grants from the World Bank in the future for “vital sectors,” according to the joint Saudi-Qatari statement.

All World Bank activity in Syria was paused in 2011 due to the magnified security concerns.

In a statement from the World Bank in September 2016, they stated that prior to 2011, the Bank provided support to Syria through “technical assistance, advisory services and policy advice on private sector development, human development, social protection and environmental sustainability.”

The bailout from the Saudi and Qatari governments will allow the interim government to gain both financial and on-the-ground support in order to help rebuild Syria's economy, which has been crumbling ever since the beginning of the civil war. 

The two oil-rich states have been vital in fostering diplomatic relations with the interim government since the fall of the Assad regime in December. 

Syria’s foreign ministry said in an April 27 statement on X that they are very grateful for the support, stating that it will also enable them to begin “cooperation with international institutions to serve the issues of recovery and reconstruction.”

In 2017, the United Nations said that it would cost around $250 billion to fully rebuild Syria, with current estimates standing around $400 billion.