By Mohammad Sio and Tarek Chouiref
ISTANBUL (AA) - One year after assuming Syria’s presidency during a transitional phase, President Ahmad al-Sharaa has overseen sweeping changes that reshaped state institutions, ended years of international isolation and redefined Syria’s position at home and abroad.
From dissolving the former regime’s power structures to restoring control over territory and energy resources, Sharaa’s first year has been marked by decisive political moves, ambitious economic reforms and intensive diplomatic engagement, as Syria entered what officials describe as a “new era” focused on unity, reconstruction and stability.
Below are the key milestones of Sharaa’s first year in office:
Jan. 29, 2025
The Military Operations Command announced that Ahmad al-Sharaa had assumed the duties of president of Syria for a transitional period following the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024.
On the same day, the 2012 constitution was suspended, the former People’s Assembly (parliament) was dissolved, and Sharaa was tasked with forming a temporary legislative council pending the drafting of a new constitution. The decision also included dissolving all armed factions and integrating them into state institutions, as well as dismantling the former regime’s army, security services and the Baath Party.
March 10, 2025
A landmark agreement was signed between the Syrian presidency and the SDF. The agreement provided for the integration of its elements into Syria’s military and security institutions, reaffirmed the country’s territorial unity and rejected any separatist tendencies.
March 13, 2025
Sharaa signed the draft transitional constitutional declaration prepared by a committee of legal experts. The declaration outlined a five-year transitional period, assigning legislative authority to an elected People’s Assembly while granting executive authority to the president during the transition.
Feb. 4, 2025
Sharaa paid an official state visit to the Turkish capital Ankara that included high-level talks about bilateral cooperation, economic recovery and regional security. He also visited Istanbul later in May 2025, meeting with Turkish officials for further discussions.
March 28, 2025
As part of institutional reform, Sharaa appointed Sheikh Osama al-Rifai as Syria’s grand mufti, a move officials said aimed at promoting religious moderation and restoring trust in national religious institutions.
May 2025
The government launched major energy agreements with international companies and rehabilitated large parts of the national electricity grid, ending years of widespread power outages and restoring more stable electricity supplies to most provinces.
June 2025
Sharaa issued a decree raising public sector salaries by 200%, one of the most significant economic decisions of the transitional period, aimed at easing living pressures and breaking with wartime economic patterns.
Aug. 20, 2025
A decree was issued adopting a temporary electoral system for the People’s Assembly, setting its size at 210 members. Two-thirds would be elected through provincial electoral bodies, while the remaining third would be appointed by the president. The High Elections Committee later announced the formation of the first post-Assad parliament.
Aug. 28, 2025
Sharaa issued a decree establishing the National Transitional Justice Commission, tasked with uncovering violations committed over past decades, supporting victims and promoting national reconciliation within a transitional justice framework.
Sept. 5, 2025
The Syrian Development Fund was launched as a national institution designed to spearhead reconstruction and manage development projects after years of destruction.
September 2025
Syria exported its first official shipment of crude oil in more than 14 years, totaling 600,000 barrels, marking a turning point in transforming the energy sector from a financial burden into a revenue source for the state.
Sept. 24, 2025
Sharaa addressed the UN General Assembly in New York, becoming the first Syrian president to do so in nearly six decades. He reaffirmed Syria’s commitment to regional stability and international law, and held talks with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on reconstruction and refugee return.
Oct. 5, 2025
Syria held its first legislative elections of the “new era,” with broad participation and competitive political engagement, according to official statements.
Oct. 15, 2025
Sharaa arrived in Moscow for his first official visit to Russia since the fall of the former regime, meeting President Vladimir Putin to discuss bilateral relations and ways to strengthen strategic cooperation.
Nov. 10, 2025
Sharaa paid an official visit to the White House, where he met US President Donald Trump. The visit paved the way for lifting the Caesar Act and broader international sanctions on Syria, formally announced weeks later.
Dec. 19, 2025
In a televised address, Sharaa announced the full lifting of international sanctions on Syria, ending more than a decade of economic isolation and opening the door to reconstruction and foreign investment.
Dec. 31, 2025
The president issued a decree launching a new Syrian national currency, removing two zeros from the pound and introducing new banknotes without imagery associated with the former regime, in a move aimed at strengthening monetary stability.
Jan. 16, 2026
Sharaa issued a decree on the rights of Syrian Kurds, affirming that Syrians of Kurdish origin are an integral part of the nation. The decree recognized Kurdish as a national language, annulled measures stemming from the 1962 Hasakah census, granted citizenship to previously unregistered Kurds and designated March 21, Nowruz, as a national public holiday.
Jan. 28, 2026
During a visit to Moscow, Sharaa announced the success of efforts to unify Syrian territory and restore state sovereignty over oil and gas fields in eastern Syria, following new integration arrangements.
Diplomacy and breaking isolation
Over the course of his first year in office, Sharaa pursued an intensive diplomatic campaign aimed at reintegrating Syria into the regional and international system after years of isolation.
His outreach spanned key regional and global capitals, including Ankara, Riyadh, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Cairo, Paris, Moscow and Washington, alongside participation in major multilateral forums such as the United Nations General Assembly and global climate summits.
Syrian officials say the diplomatic track focused primarily on restoring state sovereignty, securing international recognition of the transitional process, lifting sanctions, attracting investment and coordinating security arrangements, particularly in northeastern Syria.
The effort culminated in high-profile engagements with world leaders, the lifting of international sanctions, and Syria’s gradual return to diplomatic and economic life after more than a decade of isolation.
One year into Sharaa’s presidency, Syrian authorities say the country has moved beyond the most fragile phase of transition. Entering 2026 without sanctions, with restored sovereignty and a defined political roadmap, decisions taken during his first year have positioned Syria at the threshold of a new chapter focused on reconstruction, stability and national unity.