Emirati businessman Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor said in an interview with CNBC Arabia on Thursday, 11 June, that he “will not partner with other parties, even government entities, in investment projects inside Syria.”
Al Habtoor announced in the televised interview with the channel that he is “ready to work with Syrians whenever they want,” adding, “We have already entered the Syrian market through the automotive sector, and we have established several showrooms.”
Al Habtoor did not specify whether he had been asked to partner with local or international parties, or with the Syrian government, to invest in Syria.
However, Al Habtoor published a clarification hours earlier on X, saying his group is closely following developments in Syria and is waiting for opportunities that align with the group’s vision and ambitions, and that would allow it to provide real added value to the Syrian economy and the brotherly Syrian people.
Al Habtoor: I Am Not Fond of Partnerships
Emirati businessman Al Habtoor said he “believes in the great potential of the Syrian economy, and in the capabilities of Syrian youth, who are known for their success, ambition, and outstanding commercial spirit,” expressing his belief that Syria has all the elements needed to make a strong comeback when suitable conditions are available.
“When the right opportunity comes, we will be ready, God willing, to contribute what we can, in a way that provides added value to Syria and its dear people,” Al Habtoor said, noting that since the beginning of his business career, he has not been fond of partnerships.
He explained that this is not a position directed against any person or entity, but rather a work style he has followed throughout his life, saying, “At the beginning of my professional career, I went through some partnership experiences with friends and people close to me, and unfortunately, those experiences did not succeed as I had hoped, and I lost a lot of money.”
Since then, Al Habtoor added, he decided to build and manage his projects independently, “because I found that this approach suits my personality, ambition, and way of managing and making decisions better, and I believe this was one of the reasons for my success and continuity throughout these years.”
He clarified, “When I speak about the absence of current projects or about the nature of some investment opportunities, the matter relates to my known work style, and has nothing to do with my position toward Syria or the dear Syrian people.”
On the contrary, Al Habtoor confirmed that his love and respect for Syria and its people are very great, and that Al Habtoor Group is already present in the Syrian market through the automotive sector and service centers, pointing to several humanitarian and charitable initiatives supporting the Syrian people in various circumstances.
Al Habtoor Provides 100,000 School Desks to Syria
Al Habtoor’s latest work in Syria was what the Syrian Ministry of Education announced on 25 October, when it said Emirati businessman Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor had provided 100,000 wooden school desks for schools in Syria.
The ministry said in a statement at the time on Facebook that, as part of supporting the educational process in Syria and strengthening humanitarian cooperation between Syria and the United Arab Emirates, Emirati businessman Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor provided 100,000 school desks.
Syrian Education Minister Mohammed Abdul Rahman Turko thanked businessman Al Habtoor for the initiative, adding that “the initiative reflects the depth of the brotherly relations between the Syrian and Emirati peoples, and embodies the spirit of human solidarity in supporting education as a basic pillar for building the future.”
The minister continued that the step contributes to improving the school environment and securing the requirements of the educational process, especially in areas that need support in equipping schools.
The Emirati businessman also announced in September 2025 that he was planning to invest in a project to operate up to 3,000 buses across Syria in partnership with the state, explaining that the project “will provide about 30,000 job opportunities.”
He added that he also plans to establish large car showrooms that would provide additional job opportunities for Syrian youth.
During a tour of potential investment sites in Damascus and Syria’s coastal region, Al Habtoor confirmed that he wants to focus on initiatives that can create sustainable opportunities helping revive the war torn economy, as he put it.
“We want to invest in something that serves people, we do not just want to construct buildings, a building you build and then it is completed, we want a long term investment,” he said.
Who Is Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor
Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor is a prominent Emirati billionaire and businessman, and the founder and chairman of Al Habtoor Group, one of the largest economic conglomerates in the United Arab Emirates, active in various sectors including hospitality, real estate, automotive, education, and publishing.
He began his career as an employee at a local construction company, then founded his own company in 1970, which expanded to become a vast business empire.
He chairs the board of Dubai National Insurance and Reinsurance Company, and previously held important positions including membership in the Federal National Council and chairmanship of Commercial Bank of Dubai.
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