DAVOS: Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa has canceled plans to attend the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos this week, according to a senior member of the organization.
Arab News spoke to many attendees at the Congress Centre who were disappointed with the decision, as the president’s participation in high-level diplomacy and economic sessions would have marked the first attendance at the forum by a Syrian head of state.
Many had hoped to listen to Al-Sharaa speak about the impressive reforms and investments opportunities in Syria but understood the domestic challenges back in Damascus.
“With everything going on in recent weeks in the Middle East, it was expected that Al-Sharaa will probably not make it,” one participant told Arab News.
Syrian government forces have intensified operations against the Syrian Democratic Forces across multiple governorates — including Aleppo, Raqqa and Hasakah — with frequent exchanges of fire reported even as temporary truces are brokered.
Last year, Syria’s freshly appointed foreign minister Asaad Al-Shibani flew into Davos as part of efforts by the forum to reintegrate Syria into global political and economic conversations following years of isolation under the Assad regime.
Al-Sharaa’s cancelled Davos trip follows weeks of diplomatic and military pressures. His transitional government, which took power after overthrowing long-time leader Bashar al-Assad in late 2024, has actively sought international recognition, winning incremental sanctions relief and engaging Western partners.
