A consortium led by Qatar’s UCC Holding through its subsidiary Urbacon Concessions Investment, with the participation of Cengiz İnşaat, Kalyon İnşaat, and Assets Investments, has signed the final concession contracts with the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) in Syria to invest in the development, expansion, construction, and operation of Damascus International Airport.
The Damascus International Airport development project represents the largest investment in Syria’s history, valued at $4 billion, reflecting strong international confidence in the future of Syria’s aviation sector.
Implementation works have also begun on the ground, as the consortium companies commenced the development works of Terminal 2 at the Damascus International Airport, in addition to the rehabilitation of the old hotel building inside the airport premises, and the start of improving the main road leading to the airport.
Omar Al-Hosari, President of the Syrian Civil Aviation Authority, said that signing the contracts to develop Damascus International Airport constitutes a strategic step toward rebuilding Syria’s air gateway, strengthening the national economy, and opening new investment and employment opportunities, with the participation of major international companies from Qatar, Turkey, and the United States, which reflects global confidence in Syria’s ability to recover and in the presence of a clear, legal, and attractive investment environment.
Moutaz Al-Khayyat, Chairman of UCC Holding, also confirmed that the consortium is determined to implement a project that reshapes the future of Damascus International Airport and raises it to the level of advanced regional airports, noting that this investment will lead to a wide economic transformation in the region and achieve real value extending from developing infrastructure to creating sustainable job opportunities and enhancing the path of recovery and growth in Syria.
Capacity Expansion
The project proceeds according to a gradual development plan aimed at increasing the capacity of Damascus International Airport to become a modern and integrated regional hub. The plan begins with the operation of the new passenger terminal, Terminal 2, before the upcoming Hajj season, after completing all operational and logistical preparations, as well as security, navigation, handling, and aircraft fueling systems.
In parallel, Terminal 1 will be redesigned and developed, and its interior and service facilities updated, with work expected to be completed by the end of 2026, which will raise the airport’s capacity to 6 million passengers annually.
In the next phase, the project moves to a larger expansion through developing airside and logistical facilities, aircraft stands, cargo centers, and commercial and service infrastructure, simultaneously with the construction of the new Terminal 3. The terminal will include advanced operational capabilities, including up to 32 gates equipped with modern boarding bridges, in addition to a world-class duty-free zone containing restaurants, cafés, and international brands.
The final capacity, upon completion of Terminal 3 and all construction and logistical works, will reach 31 million passengers annually, making it one of the most advanced airports in the region in terms of technology, service quality, and operational efficiency. The airport is being developed based on a world-class architectural design prepared by Zaha Hadid Architects, giving the project a distinctive identity that reflects a forward-looking vision for regional airports.
The project also includes a $250 million financing program for the purchase of new aircraft in support of Syria’s aviation sector, in addition to adopting the latest operational technologies such as electronic gates (E-Gates), which will accelerate passenger processing and enhance the overall efficiency of airport operations.
