Saudi Arabia is reportedly seeking to reroute a major fiber-optic cable project through Syria instead of Israel, marking a potential shift in regional connectivity strategy. According to Middle East Eye, the kingdom wants Syria to serve as the transit country for the East to Med Data Corridor (EMC), a planned digital link connecting Saudi Arabia to Greece via the Mediterranean Sea.
The EMC is a joint Saudi–Greek initiative involving Saudi Telecom Company (stc), Greece’s Public Power Corporation (PPC), Greek telecom operators, and satellite applications firm TTSA. Initially announced in 2022, the project was designed to strengthen digital infrastructure between the Gulf and Europe at a time when Riyadh was exploring normalization with Israel under US mediation.
However, the regional landscape has since changed. Israel–Saudi normalization talks stalled following the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023. Meanwhile, the political shift in Syria after the fall of former president Bashar al-Assad in December 2024 has opened new avenues for Saudi investment in Damascus.
Sources cited by MEE indicate that Riyadh now prefers Syria as a transit route, reflecting broader geopolitical recalibrations. Saudi Arabia and the UAE have diverging regional priorities, particularly in Yemen, Sudan, and the Red Sea. A shift in the cable’s route could complicate Greece’s ties with Israel, given Athens’ close relationship with Tel Aviv.
Fiber-optic cables are critical infrastructure, carrying vast amounts of internet data through pulses of light. As artificial intelligence and cloud computing demand surge, Gulf states are racing to position themselves as digital gateways between Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. Beyond energy exports, countries like Saudi Arabia are investing heavily in data centers and cross-border connectivity to capture a larger share of global data flows.
Recent announcements from the Syrian Investment Authority, including new airport developments and telecommunications projects such as SilkLink, signal Damascus’ ambition to re-emerge as a regional connectivity hub. Analysts note that Syria offers an additional terrestrial route linking the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean, though its evolving political environment remains a factor for investors.
If confirmed, the route change would underscore Saudi Arabia’s intent to shape regional infrastructure corridors on its own strategic terms while redefining digital connectivity across West Asia.
