Syrian Finance Minister Muhammad Barnieh participated in the World Government Summit 2026 in Dubai, where he headed the Syrian delegation in a series of high-level meetings and international forums focused on the future of public finance and economic reform.
Active Participation in the 10th Public Finance Forum
As part of the summit, Minister Barnieh chaired a session at the 10th Public Finance Forum for Arab Countries, organized by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Arab Monetary Fund (AMF) in partnership with the UAE Ministry of Finance.
The forum addressed regional fiscal policy trends, the development of public spending to finance development, and the digital transformation of public finance systems. Barnieh also moderated a panel discussion on the application of artificial intelligence in public finance, with participation from senior officials representing Bermuda, the UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, and the World Bank.
During the forum, he delivered a presentation underscoring the importance of strengthening public-private partnerships to finance development projects. He also outlined the Ministry of Finance’s efforts to reform government financial management and enhance transparency.
Strengthening Technical Cooperation With the IMF
On the sidelines of the summit, Finance Minister Barnieh and Central Bank of Syria (CBS) Governor Abdulqadir al-Husriya met with Jihad Azour, director of the IMF’s Middle East and Central Asia Department. Discussions focused on enhancing technical cooperation between Syria and the IMF and supporting capacity-building programs for national personnel in the financial and banking sectors.
Talks also addressed the development of economic and financial statistics and examined public finance reform pathways, including tax reform and improvements to government financial management systems. The meeting further explored support for the CBS’s priorities in banking supervision and the modernization of payment systems. Both sides agreed to prepare for an IMF mission before the end of the year as part of the Article IV consultation process.
Developing Financial Cooperation With the UAE
In a series of bilateral meetings, Minister Barnieh also met with UAE Minister of State for Financial Affairs Muhammad bin Hadi al-Hussein to discuss prospects for cooperation between the two countries’ finance ministries and ways to enhance Emirati investment in Syria.
Both sides emphasized the importance of benefiting from the UAE’s experience in the digital transformation of public finance and the application of artificial intelligence. They discussed the possibility of signing a memorandum of understanding to formalize cooperation and facilitate the exchange of expertise in public finance reform, digital transformation, and the development of government financial management systems.
Minister Barnieh’s participation in the summit provided an opportunity to highlight Syria’s financial reform priorities, strengthen cooperation with international financial institutions, regional partners, and explore modern solutions and technologies aimed at building a more efficient and transparent financial system.
