Levant in January 2026: the most important developments in economy
In the Levant in January 2026, the economic news centered on Syria's energy fields and reconstruction. Syrian government forces took control of gas and oil fields in Deir ez-Zor and reached the outskirts of Raqqa by 17 January. By 19 January the government said it had regained oil wells in the al-Jazira region, planned to open a Central Bank branch in Raqqa and was preparing to welcome US oil companies, including Chevron; an official said Shell seeks to leave the al-Omar oilfield while other US firms show interest. Syria suspended flights at Aleppo airport on 10 January amid escalation with the Syrian Democratic Forces, announced incentives to attract foreign investment, and saw gold prices reach new highs. President Ahmed al-Sharaa said Egyptian companies would be prioritized in reconstruction. Turkish exports to Syria rose nearly 70% in the first year after Assad's fall.
Elsewhere, Lebanon's central bank said it was seeking to recoup embezzled funds to bolster liquidity. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development raised its investments in Jordan to 2.3 billion euros, and trade between Jordan and Qatar rose 55%.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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