Syria signs $4bn deal to redevelop Damascus airport with Qatari-Turkish-US consortium
Redevelopment to boost annual capacity to 31 million passengers under phased BOT plan
DAMASCUS, Syria (MNTV) — Syria has signed a $4 billion agreement with a consortium of Qatari, Turkish, and American firms to redevelop Damascus International Airport, in a landmark investment aimed at transforming the country’s aviation infrastructure.
The deal was formalized between the General Authority of Civil Aviation and representatives from UCC Holding (Qatar), Assets Investments USA, and Turkish firms TAV Tepe Akfen, Cengiz İnşaat, and Kalyon İnşaat. The project will be executed under a Build–Operate–Transfer (BOT) model across five phase.
The redevelopment plan envisions expanding the airport’s capacity to 6 million passengers in its first year, 16 million in subsequent phases, and ultimately reaching 31 million passengers annually.
The facility will be built in line with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and International Air Transport Association (IATA) standards, with infrastructure including up to 32 gates, modern boarding bridges, advanced air navigation systems, and a world-class duty-free area featuring global retail and dining options.
The agreement also includes the overhaul of a 50-kilometre access road to the airport and a $250 million allocation to finance the purchase of 10 Airbus A320 aircraft for Syrian Airlines, part of a broader effort to revitalize the national carrier.
The airport redevelopment follows a $7 billion energy agreement signed in May 2025 between Syria and a UCC-led consortium to develop four gas power plants and a 1,000 MW solar facility in the country. The projects, located in Homs, Hama, and Deir-Azzour, will be executed under BOO and BOT frameworks.
Wednesday’s announcement was part of a broader slate of 12 investment deals valued at $14 billion signed by Syria with various international firms.
These include a $2 billion metro development in Damascus with a UAE partner, a $2 billion agreement with Italy’s UBAKO for the Damascus Towers project, and several smaller-scale real estate ventures such as Baramkeh Towers ($500 million) and Baramkeh Mall ($60 million).
In July 2025, Syria also finalized an $800 million BOT agreement with Dubai-based DP World to manage and operate a multipurpose terminal at the Port of Tartous for 30 years, alongside plans to co-develop industrial and free zones.
Earlier that same month, Saudi Arabia pledged $6.4 billion in investments across Syria, with $2.93 billion allocated for real estate and infrastructure, and another $1.07 billion earmarked for telecom and IT sectors.
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