Enab Baladi – Wasim al-Adawi
The news of the imminent reopening of the Daraa-Ramtha border crossing with Jordan has sparked questions across social media about whether this opening will materialize soon or not.
The crossing was the first border crossing that was controlled by the Syrian revolution forces in the south in September 2013. It was targeted multiple times by the previous regime until it became unsafe and out of service, after which Jordan later announced its closure from the Ramtha side.
This crossing, located on the Syrian-Jordanian border, which is approximately 375 kilometers long, is one of the oldest crossings in Syria. It is described as a vital artery for transport and trade between the two countries, linking them to the Gulf countries via Jordan and Europe via Syria.
The crossing has a direct view of the city of Daraa and has been replaced in recent years by the farther Nassib-Jaber crossing from the city.
In the framework of a plan
To verify the validity of the rumors about the Daraa border crossing, Enab Baladi inquired with the General Authority for Land and Sea Crossings, which commented that rumors have increased lately regarding the crossing, especially following a visit from a delegation of Jordanian chambers of commerce and industry to the authority about a week ago, where they held a meeting with the head of the authority to discuss ways to enhance trade exchange.
The authority indicated that there were questions from some members of the delegation during the visit about the capabilities of the Syrian side to reopen the crossing. The response from the authority was that “the rehabilitation of border crossings, including the Daraa-Ramtha crossing, falls within its action plan,” noting that efforts have primarily focused on rehabilitating the Arida border crossing with Lebanon, which was reopened at the beginning of June.
The authority stated it “will spare no effort in rehabilitating the Ramtha crossing and its infrastructure, according to priorities, available capabilities, and its scheduled timeline.”
The authority is continuing its work to rehabilitate the affected border crossings, as confirmed by Enab Baladi, as this was re-emphasized in a meeting between the head of the authority, Qutaiba Badawi, with directors of border crossings, seaports, and free zones last April, where they reviewed the efforts being made to rehabilitate the infrastructure and facilitate trade and transit through these crossings.
The importance of the crossing
The head of the Daraa Chamber of Commerce, Qasim al-Masalmah, told Enab Baladi that the people of Daraa hope for the reopening of the Ramtha border crossing, given the significant economic and trade benefits expected, such as alleviating pressure and congestion on the Nassib border crossing, increasing the flow of tourist vehicles from Syria and Jordan with passengers coming and going, shortening the distance needed to travel from Nassib to the city of Daraa, and facilitating the transit of large freight trucks more easily than through the Nassib crossing.
Al-Masalmah stressed the necessity of opening the crossing to relieve a significant burden on the Nassib crossing, which also encompasses goods referred to as “accompanied luggage” or “seafarers,” consisting of gifts or food items that do not require customs clearance or certificates of origin or export. This contributes to stimulating the inter-economy, especially during agricultural seasons and holiday occasions between the Syrian and Jordanian sides in both directions, making it easier to move these goods between Daraa city and Jordan.
The reopening of the crossing will also affect the increase of urban activity and the reconstruction of the infrastructure that was destroyed by the previous regime’s brutal war machine in Daraa, according to al-Masalmah, and reduce transportation costs between the two countries.
The crossing is located about five kilometers from the city of Daraa, which means benefiting from direct transportation movements between Daraa and Ramtha, while the city is approximately 20 kilometers from the Nassib crossing.
The crossing was primarily used for trade movement and local activity for the people of Daraa and Ramtha, whereas the Nassib crossing is considered a station for passenger movement traveling to Amman.
“Business bank”
Yasin Akrad, an activist from Daraa al-Balad, confirmed that the reopening of the old Daraa crossing (Ramtha) is of great significance to the city’s inhabitants, as it would restore life to its natural state “that we have missed for long years. The crossing is not merely a point of passage; it is an important economic and social artery that connects the city to other regions.”
From a commercial standpoint, Akrad sees that reopening the crossing will facilitate the movement of goods between Daraa and other provinces, reducing costs and time, which will have a positive impact on the prices of goods within the city, as many merchants and shop owners struggle to deliver or import their goods from other areas. However, with an effective crossing, the commercial activity could improve significantly.
Economically, the crossing will create new job opportunities, whether through trade, transport, or associated services such as loading and shipping, even professions related to wholesale and retail. This means a more prosperous economic movement that contributes to the living hardship of the people, as Akrad reported.
The “Customs of Daraa al-Balad” (the name locals call the Daraa-Ramtha crossing) is seen by residents as the only economic lifeline that can currently yield significant benefits for Daraa province in agriculture, industry, and trade, according to Wassim al-Salakh, a resident of Daraa al-Balad, speaking to Enab Baladi.
Daraa is suffering from drought and rising agricultural supply costs this year, leading to a situation where people’s reliance on agriculture has become nearly non-existent, as mentioned by al-Salakh. As for industry, the lack of electricity has led to a decrease in individual industrial income.
Al-Salakh noted that people view the “Customs of Daraa” as a “bank for business opportunities” if it were to reopen, where drivers, workers, and “seafarers” (people who transport goods between the two sides) would work, stimulating the local market, all of which would have immediate returns on both individuals and the community as a whole.
The “Customs of Daraa,” in the belief of residents in the southern province center, will revive the natural trade movement that had flourished for many years previously, after years of war, and its reopening encourages many investments in the region.
Concerns
According to the head of the Daraa Chamber of Commerce, Qasim al-Masalmah, the restoration and rehabilitation of the customs building and the road connecting Daraa al-Balad to Ramtha do not require large sums of money, but this is contingent on a decision from both the Syrian and Jordanian governments. He pointed out that there has been much discussion among Syrian and Jordanian merchants about the crossing, suggesting that raising the topic each time does not go beyond mere wishes, and there is no current inclination to make a decision to reopen the crossing.
At the same time, al-Masalmah noted the shared concerns between the Syrian and Jordanian sides regarding issues related to drugs. Therefore, there may be a desire from both Jordanian and Syrian sides to keep the Nassib crossing as the sole crossing to better control the borders, emphasizing the need to reduce these fears, especially with the elimination of the previous regime, which was the main supporter of drug production and trafficking.
While the residents of Daraa al-Balad are calling for the reopening of the Ramtha crossing, efforts from both the Syrian and Jordanian sides are focused on expanding and rehabilitating the Nassib-Jaber crossing, which was reactivated for 24-hour operations in March 2025.
In May, Syrian authorities announced that the crossing was ready to receive 12,000 vehicles per day, amidst a project to develop the gates and reception halls, aiming to expedite inspection and customs processes and reduce waiting times for passengers and trucks.
Daraa: Citizens and merchants demand reopening of Ramtha crossing Enab Baladi.
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