Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa said the approved 2026 state budget is estimated at $10.5 billion, nearly five times larger than the 2024 budget.
He described this as “a very significant achievement accomplished within a year and a few months,” in a recorded speech marking Eid al-Fitr on Friday morning, March 20.
Government spending in Syria reached $2 billion in 2024 and grew by around 30 to 35% in 2025, according to al-Sharaa.
Syria’s gross domestic product reached approximately $32 billion, while spending rose to $3.5 billion, with the country recording a budget surplus for the first time.
Al-Sharaa also announced the introduction of a minimum wage that takes poverty levels into account, along with a 50% increase in wages and salaries, noting additional raises for doctors, engineers, and workers in specialized institutions.
According to al-Sharaa, the goal is to enable Syrians to achieve self-sufficiency and live with dignity.
He added that a fund of no less than $3 billion will be allocated to support infrastructure, financed through government spending rather than aid or loans.
Budget surplus debate
Syria’s 2025 state budget recorded a financial surplus exceeding $500 million during the first ten months, according to statements made in September 2025 by Syrian Finance Minister Mohammed Yosr Bernieh.
Bernieh said at the time that the surplus reflected improved public financial management through stricter spending controls and anti-corruption measures.
Responding to questions from Enab Baladi, Bernieh said those figures have “changed significantly” and now require updating and revision.
Meanwhile, economic and financial expert Mohammad Taseer al-Faqih said there is broad agreement that any real financial surplus should result from genuine economic growth and increased productivity, not merely from spending cuts or delayed projects.
Ending displacement camps a priority
Al-Sharaa said the government’s priority is to launch a program to close displacement camps and enable residents to return to their areas, facilitating the return of people to their towns and villages after years of displacement.
The new budget allocates funds for infrastructure rehabilitation in targeted areas, focusing on rural Idlib, northern Hama, northern Latakia, rural Aleppo, and Eastern Ghouta.
He also said the government will allocate a special budget for eastern regions, including Deir Ezzor, al-Hasakah, and Raqqa, with a focus on improving services such as hospitals, schools, and roads, alongside broader infrastructure development.
Resources returned to state control in northeastern Syria will support the national economy in the energy, food, and water sectors, he added.
Improving services
Al-Sharaa reassured Syrians that the government is moving quickly to improve public services, noting that recovery will take time given the scale of the deterioration.
He said 40% of the current budget will be allocated to services such as healthcare and education.
“The state’s mission is to empower citizens as much as possible. These are only the beginnings,” al-Sharaa said, adding that efforts are ongoing “day and night” to reach a level that reflects the dignity of the Syrian people and strengthens their sense of belonging.
Parliament session delayed
Al-Sharaa explained the delay in holding the first session of the People’s Assembly, saying authorities opted to wait until elections in recently “liberated areas” were completed.
He expressed hope that the first session will be held soon after final arrangements are completed.
He added that Syrians place significant hopes on the Assembly to represent their concerns.
Syria and regional developments
Regarding regional developments, al-Sharaa said current policies have helped keep Syria relatively removed from ongoing conflicts, while maintaining balanced relations with regional and international actors.
He described current events as a rare and major historical moment not seen since World War II, stressing that Syria is carefully calculating its steps to avoid being drawn into conflicts and to maintain its path toward development and reconstruction.
“Syria has moved into a new phase,” he said, “transforming from a conflict arena into a force contributing to stability and security both internally and regionally.”
Al-Sharaa also intensified phone calls with Gulf leaders, including those of Kuwait, the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, affirming Syria’s solidarity with Arab states in the face of threats to their sovereignty and security.
He reiterated Syria’s rejection of any violations of Arab sovereignty or attempts to destabilize the region, warning against further escalation and stressing the importance of Arab coordination, dialogue, and diplomacy as strategic solutions.
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