Syria and Saudi Arabia signed a series of agreements on Saturday, including a deal to establish a joint airline, at a ceremony in Damascus. Another agreement covered telecommunications in a country whose infrastructure still bears the scars of 14 years of conflict.
During the signing ceremony, five agreements were announced, including “an agreement to form a Syrian-Saudi economic airline company aimed at enhancing regional and international air connectivity and facilitating travel and trade movement.” It was named “Nas Syria” airline.
The two sides also signed an agreement to establish the “Silk Link” project with the aim of “developing telecommunications infrastructure and digital connectivity,” with a value of one billion dollars.
Syria
Syria is a country in the Middle East with a profound historical legacy, often called the “cradle of civilization” for its ancient cities like Damascus and Aleppo. It has been home to successive empires, including the Phoenician, Roman, and Ottoman, and contains numerous significant archaeological sites such as Palmyra and the Krak des Chevaliers castle. The country has faced severe damage to its cultural heritage during the ongoing Syrian Civil War, which began in 2011.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is a Middle Eastern nation founded in 1932 by King Abdulaziz Al Saud, unifying the regions of Najd and Hejaz. It is the birthplace of Islam, home to the religion’s two holiest cities, Mecca and Medina, and its history and culture are deeply intertwined with the Islamic faith. The country’s modern development has been profoundly shaped by the discovery of vast petroleum reserves in the 1930s.
Damascus
Damascus is the capital of Syria and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, with a history spanning over 11,000 years. It has been a major cultural and commercial center, ruled by various empires including the Aramaeans, Romans, and Umayyads, who established it as the capital of the Islamic Caliphate in the 7th century. The city’s historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is renowned for landmarks like the Umayyad Mosque and the ancient Al-Hamidiyah Souq.
Nas Syria
Nas Syria refers to the ancient city of Palmyra, located in present-day Syria. It was a major cultural and trading hub in antiquity, flourishing under the Roman Empire as a wealthy center of caravan trade. The site is renowned for its monumental ruins, which blend Greco-Roman architecture with Persian influences, though it has suffered significant damage during the Syrian Civil War.
Silk Link
The Silk Link refers to the historical network of trade routes collectively known as the Silk Road, which connected China with the Mediterranean world. It facilitated the exchange of goods, ideas, and cultures between East and West for centuries, beginning around the 2nd century BCE. This system was crucial for the economic and cultural development of numerous civilizations along its path.
