A new five-star hotel planned for Damascus’ Al-Jalaa Sports City has drawn attention due to limited public information about its developers and consulting partners. The project reflects ongoing investment activity in Syria’s hospitality sector while raising questions about transparency and project governance. Read more: syria-report.com/

Saudi-backed investments worth USD 1.2 billion are moving forward in Damascus through two major residential developments: Abyat Hills and the Modern Urban Community. The projects, launched in partnership between the General Housing Establishment and Saudi company Abyat, signal growing interest in Syria’s housing sector. Read more: syria-report.com/ Photo credit: Ministry of Public Works and Housing

Iraq is advancing plans to increase crude oil exports through Syria, reinforcing Syria’s strategic role as a regional energy transit corridor. While the Kirkuk-Banias pipeline remains inactive, expanded truck-based exports are expected to significantly boost oil flows in the coming months. Read more: syria-report.com/

Syrian exports exceeded USD 2 billion in 2025, according to the Export and Production Support and Development Authority (EPSDA). Oil accounted for 10% of total exports, while phosphate represented 3%, highlighting the continued diversification of Syria’s export base amid evolving economic conditions. Read more: syria-report.com/

Emirati businessman Mohammad Al-Abbar is expanding his presence in Syria through new investments in the real estate and e-commerce sectors. The move highlights increasing Gulf interest in exploring emerging business opportunities in the Syrian market. Read more: syria-report.com/

📄 New Spotlight Issue Published The Syria Report, in partnership with Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, is pleased to publish a new Spotlight paper: "Elections in the Northeast Pave the Way for Syrian Parliament to Convene, But Spark Debate About Representation" After elections were held in the Northeast, Syria appears closer than ever to convening its first Post-Assad Parliament. However, criticism regarding the representation of ethnic and religious minorities remains a key obstacle to legitimising the new body.  An obstacle that President Ahmad Al-Sharaa could overcome using his quota of 70 MPs. 👉 Read the full report here: kas.de/documents/284382/2844…

Renewable energy continues to play a growing role in Syria’s power sector. While large-scale implementation remains slow, installed off-grid solar capacity increased from 1,500 MW to 2,060 MW between 2024 and 2025, with solar systems increasingly supporting water supply services. Read more: syria-report.com/ Photo credit: WDRVM

The Syrian Investment Authority has approved two major industrial projects under new investment licences: a food industries facility in Rural Damascus and a cement production plant in Tartous. The projects reflect ongoing efforts to stimulate industrial investment. Read more: syria-report.com/

The Syrian government has announced a new pension increase for retired public-sector workers, following salary hikes introduced earlier this year. While the measure raises incomes for hundreds of thousands of retirees, pensions remain well below estimated living costs. Read more: syria-report.com/

An unusual surge in the Euphrates River has triggered one of northeastern Syria’s most significant water emergencies in recent years. Thousands of families in Raqqa and Deir-ez-Zor have been affected, with flooding damaging farmland, infrastructure, and water services while exposing gaps in flood preparedness. Read more: syria-report.com/

The Ministry of Finance has granted Syrian governors broader authority over local staffing decisions under Decision No. 1378 of 2026. Governors can now approve employee transfers between finance-related directorates and bodies within their governorates, expanding local administrative powers. Read more: syria-report.com/ Photo Credit: B2B (Independent Economy Website)

Syria’s Presidency has amended the Contracts Law, increasing the threshold for direct public procurement to New SYP 200,000 under Decision No. 557 of 2026. The amendment gives public institutions greater flexibility in conducting direct purchases without standard tender procedures. Read more: syria-report.com/

The Syrian-Uzbek Economic Forum in Aleppo highlighted Damascus’ efforts to diversify economic partnerships and position Syria as a regional transit hub. The forum came amid renewed tensions in Idlib involving Uzbek fighters, underscoring the overlap between economic diplomacy and unresolved security challenges in northwest Syria. Read more: syria-report.com/

Foreign companies are expanding their role in Syria’s transport infrastructure sector. Recent projects and discussions include CMA CGM’s dry port plans linked to Lattakia Port, Turkish investments in Idlib, airport infrastructure talks with Luxembourgish and Egyptian firms, US-backed road projects, and Saudi interest in rail transport for oil shale. Read more: syria-report.com/

Emirati businessman Mohammad Al-Abbar is expanding his footprint in Syria, announcing new investments in real estate and e-commerce in recent weeks. The moves reflect growing Emirati interest in testing investment opportunities in the Syrian market amid shifting regional dynamics. Read more: syria-report.com/ Photo Credit: Bidayah

Syria’s industrial sector is shaped by a combination of major industrial cities and 268 smaller industrial zones and clusters. A new analysis examines the government’s approach to both models and assesses their potential role in supporting industrial recovery and economic revitalization across the country. Read more: syria-report.com/ Photo credit: Taylor Luck

Carlton Hotel Idlib rehabilitation project officially launched under a contract signed in the presence of Tourism Minister Mazen Al-Salhani and Idlib Governor Mohammad AbdulRahman. The project aims to restore the hotel’s infrastructure and revive hospitality services in the governorate, with implementation led by two little-known companies. Read more: syria-report.com/

Syria’s latest fuel and cooking gas price hikes are driving up costs across transportation, food, manufacturing, and retail sectors, placing additional strain on households facing declining purchasing power. Officials linked the increases to regional instability and concerns over energy imports amid escalating tensions around the Strait of Hormuz. Read more: syria-report.com/

Israeli military activity in southern Syria continues to escalate, with reports of incursions into villages in Quneitra and Daraa, the establishment of temporary checkpoints, home raids, and the detention of local residents. On Monday, Israeli settlers also illegally crossed into southern Syria, further heightening tensions in the border region. Read more: syria-report.com/ Written by: @Amesegura

The dismissal of Central Bank Governor AbdulQader Husrieh and the appointment of Safwat Raslan signal growing tensions within Syria’s leadership over monetary policy and institutional governance. The move comes amid ongoing economic instability and mounting pressure on state financial institutions. Read more: syria-report.com/