Sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Asaad Al-Sheibani, the Foreign Minister of Syria's new administration, will attend the meeting. The talks will also feature the UN envoy to Syria, Geir Pedersen, and Kaya Kallas, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

According to the same sources, Arab foreign ministers will hold a preliminary session to assess Syria's status before broader discussions with their European counterparts and representatives of participating organizations.

In a statement, the U.S. State Department confirmed that Undersecretary John Bass would participate in the multilateral meeting hosted by Saudi Arabia. The department noted that Bass would engage in bilateral meetings with key partners during his stay in Riyadh from January 11 to 13 to advance shared regional and global priorities.

The Syrian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Ayman Sousan, highlighted Riyadh's significant role in aiding Syria during this transitional period. "Saudi Arabia has regional and international influence, as well as enormous capabilities to help Syria overcome its current challenges. As always, it will not leave Syria alone and will do everything possible to restore its rightful position," Sousan stated.

Saudi Arabia has been providing humanitarian assistance to Syria via land and air bridges, delivering food, shelter, and medical supplies.

The Riyadh talks follow a mid-December meeting held in the Jordanian city of Aqaba, during which the Ministerial Contact Committee on Syria reaffirmed its support for the Syrian people. The committee pledged to offer all necessary aid during this pivotal stage to rebuild Syria on foundations that ensure its security, stability, sovereignty, and unity while safeguarding the rights of its people to live in a safe, free, and dignified environment.

The committee, established by the Arab League, comprises Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt, the UAE, Bahrain (the current Arab Summit President), and Qatar, along with the League’s Secretary-General. Following the Aqaba talks, the committee underscored its commitment to a peaceful and inclusive Syrian political transition in line with Security Council Resolution 2254.

The Aqaba meeting also included the foreign ministers of Turkey, France, and the United States, who collectively emphasized the importance of restoring Syria’s stability and reintegrating it into the Arab regional framework.