Kuwaiti telecommunications operator Zain is reportedly preparing to enter Syria’s mobile communications market through a USD 1.5 billion investment, marking what would be the first entry by a foreign telecom operator since the country’s civil war ended in 2024.

According to reports, Zain is close to securing a 20-year operating licence, valued at USD 747 million, to launch a new mobile network in Syria. The company is expected to invest an additional USD 800 million to modernise and expand the country’s telecommunications infrastructure, including the rollout of 5G services.

Under the reported agreement, Zain will hold a 75% stake in the new operation, while Syria’s sovereign wealth fund will own the remaining 25%. The company is also expected to acquire the infrastructure, facilities, and equipment of MTN Syria, which has operated in the country for more than two decades.

Neither Zain nor Syria’s Ministry of Telecommunications has officially commented on the reported deal.

If completed, the investment would rank among the largest foreign investments announced since the political transition in Syria and reflects growing regional interest in rebuilding the country’s communications infrastructure.

Telecommunications has become a strategic priority for Syria’s reconstruction, with reliable mobile and internet services considered essential for banking, government services, logistics, and private sector activity. Years of conflict left much of the country’s communications network damaged or in need of significant modernisation.

The sector has already attracted interest from leading Gulf operators. Earlier this year, Saudi Arabia’s STC Group was selected to develop the Silklink fibre-optic project, an investment valued at approximately USD 800 million, while other regional operators, including Ooredoo and e&, also expressed interest in the initiative.

Syria has also taken initial steps towards next-generation mobile services. In 2025, MTN Syria and Syriatel conducted the country’s first 5G trials in cooperation with national telecommunications authorities.

The reported investment forms part of a broader wave of Gulf-backed reconstruction projects across Syria, including major investments in aviation, transport, and urban infrastructure.

Source: Al-Monitor (al-monitor.com)