Nissan Motor Corporation has announced its return to Syria, reigniting its long-standing partnership with Al Rakhaa Trading Limited, part of the Rakhaa Group, as its exclusive distributor in the market. The announcement marks an important milestone in Nissan’s regional growth strategy and reflects the company’s commitment to re-establishing a structured and sustainable presence in Syria.
The announcement was made during a signing ceremony held at Nissan’s Middle East headquarters in Dubai, attended by senior leadership from both organizations, including Massimiliano (Max) Messina, Chairperson for Nissan’s Africa, Middle East, India, Europe and Oceania (AMIEO) region, Thierry Sabbagh, Divisional Vice President and President, Middle East, KSA, CIS and India – Nissan and INFINITI, and Omar Shallah, CEO of Al Rakhaa Trading Limited.
Under the renewed partnership, Nissan will adopt a phased approach to re-establishing facilities, with vehicle sales planned to commence by mid-2026. The initial phase will focus on establishing operations in Damascus, while further expansion will be assessed progressively in line with market conditions and operational readiness. All facilities will be developed in accordance with Nissan’s global Nissan Retail Concept (NRC) standards to deliver a consistent, customer-centric sales and ownership experience to customers in Syria.
Thierry Sabbagh, Divisional Vice President and President, Middle East, KSA, CIS and India – Nissan and INFINITI, said: “Nissan’s return to Syria forms part of our broader strategy to strengthen our presence across the Middle East through disciplined, long-term partnerships. Al Rakhaa Trading Limited is a partner with proven experience, a deep understanding of the market, and a long-standing relationship with the Nissan brand. As we re-establish operations, our focus is on building a structured foundation that supports sustainable growth and delivers a consistent sales and ownership experience aligned with Nissan’s global standards.”
The relationship between Nissan and Al Rakhaa Trading Limited dates back to 2006. By the time commercial operations were paused in 2011, the partnership had established a nationwide sales and aftersales network, including a flagship 3S facility in Damascus. Despite the pause, Al Rakhaa Trading Limited continued to provide essential aftersales support, maintaining continuity and reinforcing its long-term commitment to Nissan customers in the country and to the Nissan brand.
Omar Shallah, CEO, Al Rakhaa Trading Limited, said: “This moment carries deep personal and professional significance for me and for everyone at Al Rakhaa Trading Limited, as it represents both the continuity of a long-standing journey and the beginning of a renewed chapter. It reaffirms our enduring commitment to the Nissan brand and reflects a legacy of trust, responsibility, and service that we owe to our customers, many of whom stood by the brand and by us through exceptionally challenging years. As we move forward, we are proud to contribute to a new chapter for Syria, one defined by hope, openness, and sustainable growth, and to reintroduce structured mobility and aftersales solutions that meet international standards and reflect our long-term commitment to the market.”
Together with Al Rakhaa Trading Limited, Nissan aims to deliver mobility solutions and a consistent ownership experience tailored to the region’s evolving needs. As sales operations commence, Nissan is set to introduce an expansive line-up of products aligned with customer needs, including the Patrol, X-Trail, X-Terra, Magnite, and Urvan, with further details on availability to be shared closer to market launch.