Magazine

CIP in a Week 04

What matters most to investors and property developers in Syria — 4–12 November 2026

12 November 2026•5 min read•Construction & Investment Prime

This week in Syria: “Hama Rises” — 11 projects worth $1.5 billion; over 20 Austrian companies showing interest in the Syrian market after the Vienna forum; cement returns to production under contracts worth nearly $1.5 billion; Saudi concessional financing of $403.6 million; and a new licence to develop the industrial zones in Aleppo. At the end of the issue, a warning for anyone buying land near Damascus Airport Road.

“Hama Rises”: a $1.5 billion investment package

Hama Governorate launched on Wednesday evening the first package of its investment projects: 11 projects under real execution contracts, led by the Yasmin district — about 1,800 apartments on 300,000 square metres under the “10-minute neighbourhood” concept — and about 30,000 jobs. The governor expects property prices to fall and advised residents to wait before buying.

Read the full article on CIP: https://cip.sy/en/hama-11-investment-projects-launch-2/

Over 20 Austrian companies eye Syria after Vienna forum

More than 20 Austrian companies have shown interest in exploring cooperation and business opportunities in the Syrian market, following up on the outcomes of the 16th Austrian–Arab Economic Forum, held in Vösendorf near Vienna on 10 and 11 November. The Syrian delegation was headed by Minister of Transport Yarub Badr.

Sheikh Al-Kar identified three main areas for cooperation: agricultural technology, railway transport including metro and electric tram systems, and vocational training and technical qualification. He explained that Austria offers training programmes in more than 240 specialisations.

Richard Pfeffer, CEO of Austria’s Pfeffer & Partner, said work is under way to establish a company in Damascus to cooperate with local partners and provide vocational training and development for Syrian staff under the Austrian model.

Read the full article on CIP: https://cip.sy/en/austrian-companies-syria-vienna-forum-en/

Omran restarts cement plants with investments of nearly $1.5 billion

The General Company for Cement and Building Materials (Omran) is carrying out a plan to restart its idle plants, starting with the Adra plant in Rural Damascus under a framework agreement with Saudi Arabia’s Northern Cement Group. Omran’s production rose from about 2.5 million tonnes in 2025 to about 3.7 million tonnes today.

Value of the investment contracts: nearly $1.5 billion

Training: 40 engineers and technicians

Plants return to the state: after the investment term, at about 85% of operating capacity

CIP reading: cement is the basic material for most construction projects. Rising production and the return of idle plants are two indicators worth following when estimating material costs and availability for your projects.

Read the full article on CIP: https://cip.sy/en/omran-cement-plants-revival-adra-en/

Saudi concessional loans of $403.6 million, including $60 million to rehabilitate 10,000 housing units

The Ministry of Finance signed six agreements with the Saudi Fund for Development in Riyadh (4 November); the loans run for up to 20 years, including a five-year grace period. The package includes $90 million to rehabilitate Aleppo’s thermal power station, $100 million for the health sector and $105 million for civil defence. The ministry described it as a first tranche, meaning further projects may follow.

CIP reading: the housing loan is for rehabilitating damaged units, not new construction, and the Ministry of Public Works and Housing estimates the housing deficit at about two million units by 2035. Rehabilitation work here is an opportunity for contractors and finishing-materials suppliers.

Read the full article on CIP: https://cip.sy/en/saudi-fund-syria-loans-403-million-2/

Investment Authority grants a real estate development licence for the industrial zones in Aleppo

The licence (8 November) covers studying, building and marketing the infrastructure of the governorate’s industrial zones, under the real estate development and investment category. It came a day after a licence for a pharmaceuticals plant in Aleppo itself.

Not yet announced: the name of the licence holder, the investment value, the exact zones covered, and the timeline. Do not base a decision on this licence until those details are published.

Read the full article on CIP: https://cip.sy/en/sia-aleppo-industrial-zones-license-2/

Warning before you buy: the Damascus International Airport Road corridor

Building is prohibited on both sides of the road, from al-Baytarah roundabout (km 0) to the airport entrance (km 22), within the following distances, measured from the road centreline on each side:

Phase 1: al-Baytarah roundabout – Fourth Bridge (km 0–10): 250 m

Phase 2: Fourth Bridge – Seventh Bridge (km 10–20): 275 m

Phase 3: Seventh Bridge – airport entrance (km 20–22): 500 m

Source: Eastern Ghouta District Administration, Rural Damascus Governorate, 28 October 2026.

See the full map and table (Arabic article): https://cip.sy/damascus-airport-road-zone-area/

Also this week

Hama Cement restarts its third plant after two years of stoppage: https://cip.sy/en/hama-cement-plant-3-trial-operation-2/

Investment Authority discusses a building-materials complex with a Chinese company and restarting idle factories: https://cip.sy/en/sia-jiangsu-building-materials-complex-2/

FAZ signs an investment contract to build three new mills and rehabilitate six: https://cip.sy/en/faz-mills-investment-contract-2/

Damascus draws its skyline: the new height rules for towers: https://cip.sy/en/damascus-skyline-height-rules-2/

First Syrian-Czech Business Forum opens in Damascus with 14 Czech companies: https://cip.sy/en/syrian-czech-business-forum-2/

Syrian-Chinese Economic Development Forum opens with 16 Chinese companies: https://cip.sy/en/syrian-chinese-forum-damascus-en/

Five foreign consultancy firms register in Syria under the syndicate’s terms: https://cip.sy/en/foreign-consultancies-syria-registration-2026-en/

The announced projects radar, open tenders and the companies directory are all on the platform. Browse cip.sy — and subscribe to the email newsletter to receive each new issue every Thursday: https://cip.sy/en/subscribe-to-the-newsletter/