Info Investment Opportunities in Syria is Waiting, But Al-Sharaa Batal Attends the World Economic Forum

Abu Mohammed al-Golani alias Ahmed Al-Sharaa (second from right) at the end of 2024 still serves as the leader of HTS meets Syrian PM Al-Jalali who will be dismissed. (doc. Military Operation Command)

JAKARTA - Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa is reported to have canceled his plans to go to Davos, Switzerland, to attend the 2026 World Economic Forum (WEF).

Quoting AN, Wednesday, January 21, a source of senior WEF members said the former leader of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham or HTS rebel group was canceled.

The absence of Al-Sharaa made a number of WEF participants disappointed. The reason is that the presence of the man who used to be called Abu Mohammed al-Golani in the high-level diplomacy and economic session for the first time was awaited.

Many attendees who understand the domestic challenges in Damascus hope to listen to Al-Sharaa talk about reforms and investment opportunities in Syria.

"With everything that has happened in the last few weeks in the Middle East, it is expected that Al-Sharaa may not be present," a participant told AN.

Last year, the newly appointed Syrian Foreign Minister, Asaad Al-Shibani, flew to Davos as part of the WEF forum's efforts to reintegrate Syria into the global political and economic conversation after years of isolation under the Al-Sharaa-led HTS regime.

Al-Sharaa's cancellation of his visit to Davos comes after weeks of diplomatic and military pressure. His transitional government, which came to power after overthrowing longtime leader Bashar al-Assad at the end of 2024, has actively sought international recognition, winning gradual sanctions relief and engaging Western partners.