Saudi Arabia has a major role in Syria’s future: Ahmad Al-Sharaa

Syria’s leader added that the Kingdom has major investment opportunities in Syria

Syria’s new leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa said Saudi Arabia has a major role to play in his country’s future during an interview with Al Arabiya. «I take pride in everything it has done for us,» he said, adding that he spent his early childhood in Riyadh and hopes to visit the city again.

Al-Sharaa also praised recent Saudi statements as «very positive» and commended Riyadh’s efforts toward stabilizing Syria.

He added that the Kingdom has major investment opportunities in Syria.

Speaking about elections in the country, Al-Sharaa said organizing polls in Syria could take up to four years as it requires a comprehensive population census.

Al-Sharaa is Syria’s de facto leader until March 1, when Syria’s different factions are set to hold a political dialogue to determine the country’s political future and establish a transitional government that brings the divided country together.

In the middle of December top diplomats from eight Arab League countries have agreed at a meeting in Jordan to «support a peaceful transition process» in Syria following President Bashar al-Assad’s overthrow. Foreign ministers from Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt, the UAE, Bahrain and Qatar issued a joint statement on Saturday after they met in the Jordanian Red Sea port of Aqaba.

They said «all political and social forces» must be represented in the new Syrian government and warned against «any ethnic, sectarian or religious discrimination» and called for «justice and equality for all citizens».