Syria has signed a landmark memorandum of understanding with a Qatar-led consortium to redevelop and expand Damascus International Airport in what is set to be one of the country’s largest foreign infrastructure investments in decades.
Valued at over US$4 billion, the project will be delivered by a five-company consortium headed by Qatar’s UCC Holding, alongside Assets Investments USA LLC from the United States and Turkish firms Cengiz İnşaat, Kalyon İnşaat, and TAV Tepe Akfen. The redevelopment will follow a build-operate-transfer (BOT) model over five phases, ultimately increasing the airport’s capacity to 31 million passengers annually.
The signing ceremony in Damascus was attended by Tom Barrack, U.S. Special Envoy to Syria, Qatari Embassy officials, senior Syrian government representatives, and other diplomats.
According to UCC, the initiative aims to enhance Syria’s global connectivity while driving economic recovery, trade, and tourism. Phase one will accommodate 6 million passengers, rising to 16 million in phase two, before reaching full capacity. The upgraded airport will comply with ICAO and IATA standards, featuring up to 32 boarding gates, a modern air navigation system, and a premium duty-free complex with international retail and dining brands.
The project also includes major supporting infrastructure: a 50 km upgraded access road and a US$250 million investment in 10 new Airbus A320 aircraft for Syrian Airlines, aimed at revitalising the national carrier.
Consortium members bring extensive experience from projects including Istanbul New Airport, Cairo International Airport Terminal 3 expansion, and airports across Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Georgia, Tunisia, and North Macedonia. The development is expected to create over 90,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Mohammad Moutaz Al-Khayyat, Chairman of UCC Holding, emphasised the integration of global expertise with local market knowledge as the foundation for the project’s success. Ramez Al-Khayyat, UCC’s President and Group CEO, described the development as a “strategic bridge” toward Syria’s recovery and prosperity, leveraging its location to position Damascus International Airport as a model for advanced, smart transportation in the region.
Sani Şener, Chairman of TAV, called it “a gateway to revitalising the Syrian economy,” underlining its potential to reintegrate Syria into regional and global trade and investment flows.
