Syrian Wealth Between Resource Management and Corruption Allegations Within the Transitional Government Authority
Syria possesses vast natural resources, including oil, gas, phosphates, and large agricultural areas, forming an important foundation for reconstruction. Oil reserves are estimated at around 2.5 billion barrels, natural gas at approximately 8.5 trillion cubic feet, and phosphates at nearly two billion tons, along with 6.5 million hectares of arable land available for investment.
Despite these potentials, the distribution of Syrian wealth has remained governed by complex political and security factors due to years of prolonged conflict, the multiplicity of controlling actors, and shifting zones of influence since 2011. Oil and gas fields are concentrated in Deir Ezzor, Al-Hasakah, and Raqqa, while the Syrian Democratic Forces have controlled most of these resources since 2017, whereas western regions were under the control of the previous government. By the end of 2024, new factions emerged in the management of these resources, reshaping the map of influence in the country.
Corruption Allegations Surrounding Resource Management
Investigative reports and local sources indicate that the Transitional Government Authority, led by Ahmad Al-Shar’a, faces widespread accusations related to the management of Syrian wealth. These reports state that Ahmad Al-Shar’a controls massive economic contracts valued at approximately $40 billion, most of which remain confidential, including road-paving contracts in Idlib worth about $12 million, with an additional reserve of up to $15 million.
Sources also point to the involvement of other individuals within this network of influence, including:
• Hazem Al-Shar’a: Ahmad’s brother, overseeing economic restructuring and managing assets exceeding $1.6 billion, including properties seized from businessmen and companies affiliated with the former regime.
• Muhannad Al-Masri: A close friend of Ahmad Al-Shar’a, accused of theft within financial disputes inside the authority.
• Maher Al-Shar’a and Abu Ibrahim Al-Salama: Financial influence partners allegedly involved in conflicts over signing fraudulent contracts for road projects in Idlib.
• Abu Mariam Al-Australi: Head of the Economic Committee, controlling aid mechanisms and overseeing contracts, contributing to the diversion of large portions of aid toward fictitious projects or specific individuals.
• The Al-Khayyat family (Moataz and Mohammad): Allegedly involved in paying bribes to protect their economic interests and contracts.
The Media’s Role in the Corruption Network
Investigations point to the involvement of certain media figures and journalists—such as Jamil Al-Hassan, Hadi Al-Abdullah, and Mousa Al-Omar—in providing media support to the authority in exchange for financial and material gains, including vehicles, restaurants, and properties. This role forms part of a propaganda machine that conceals facts and distracts public attention from financial corruption cases, reinforcing the continuity of this system without accountability.
Mechanisms of Corruption and Its Impact on the Economy
• Secret contracts concluded without oversight, often awarded directly, enabling the misuse of public funds.
• Monthly revenues ranging between $100–150 million distributed among a narrow circle of influential figures without accountability.
• Exploitation of refugee and humanitarian aid through commissions linked to the corruption network.
• Intense internal disputes among corrupt actors themselves, reflecting the depth of financial and political influence.
• Lack of transparency and accountability, with a hidden group controlling economic and financial decision-making.
Impacts on Syrian Society
If confirmed, these allegations lead to:
• Increasing income inequality and rising poverty levels.
• Erosion of the middle class and heightened economic and social polarization.
• Loss of public trust in institutions, weakening the government’s capacity to provide effective services.
• Depletion of national resources, threatening political and social stability in the long term.
Prospects for Solutions and Restoring Stability
Economic analysts emphasize that addressing these challenges requires:
• Transparent policies and tax reforms.
• Effective oversight mechanisms in resource management.
• Separation between politics and economic administration.
• Opening corruption files and investigating confidential contracts without exception.
Overall, the combination of economic and political challenges—alongside recurring allegations of corruption within the Transitional Government Authority—constitutes one of the most significant obstacles to managing Syria’s wealth. It directly affects prospects for sustainable development and national stability, in addition to threatening the economic and social security of the Syrian people.
