UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi Visits Fly Cham Airlines, the First Emirati Investment in Syria
In a move reflecting the UAE government’s commitment to supporting private-sector investment in Syria, His Excellency Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, visited the headquarters of Fly Cham Airlines, regarded as the first major Emirati investment in the Syrian market.
The visit came as part of the agenda of the high-level UAE economic delegation participating in the First Syrian–Emirati Investment Forum, currently being held in Damascus.
Upon his arrival at the company’s headquarters, H.E. Dr. Al Zeyoudi was received by Captain Musa Boutros, Chief Executive Officer of Fly Cham Airlines; Captain Shihab Al Hijazi, Director of Strategic Operations; along with a number of the company’s senior managers and employees.
During the visit, discussions focused on a range of key issues and challenges facing the company’s operations, from regulatory procedures within the aviation sector to the required facilitations and other important operational matters.
H.E. Dr. Al Zeyoudi affirmed that the UAE government attaches special importance to supporting the first steps of Emirati investors in Syria. He also noted that the Ministry will exert the necessary efforts, in coordination with the relevant Syrian authorities, to help overcome obstacles facing investors. He stressed that the success of Fly Cham Airlines would serve as an incentive for other Emirati investors to explore promising opportunities in the Syrian market.
Fly Cham Airlines is considered the first major UAE investment in Syria. Established in early 2025, the company operates a fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft, connecting Damascus and Aleppo with key Gulf capitals and cities, most notably Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah. The launch of the airline was viewed as an important step toward restoring confidence in the Syrian economy.
Since commencing its commercial operations in 2025, Fly Cham Airlines has quickly emerged as a model for investors seeking to enter the Syrian market. The company has succeeded in operating regular flights in line with international standards of quality, safety and security, currently serving more than 13 regional and international destinations and achieving strong operational performance.
The company is also preparing to expand its network of international destinations as part of an ambitious phased growth plan. This will begin with increasing the number of daily flights to existing destinations, followed by the launch of new routes to regional and European cities in the coming phase.
