Damascus - Syria

Damascus returns to the forefront of economic exhibitions with the launch of the second session of the International Reconstruction of Syria Exhibition “Emaar 2026”, during the period from September 13 to 16 in the Exhibition City, in an event that seeks to bring together investors, companies and decision makers on reconstruction and development issues, with a clear presence of the tourism sector among the investment opportunities presented.

Tourism is among the priority sectors

The exhibition is not limited to construction, energy and infrastructure, as the Syrian Investment Authority places tourism among 10 priority sectors that are being promoted to investors, in addition to industry, logistics and technical services. The Authority’s platform displays opportunities related to tourism products and developmentable sites, including projects in Homs Governorate, which reflects an attempt to include tourism investment within broader development plans.

Numbers aimed at attracting investors

According to the official website of the exhibition, the 2026 session aims to attract about 100,000 visitors and 500 local and international participants from 48 countries, on an area estimated at about 60,000 square metres, with a focus on building new partnerships in the construction, energy, industry and investment sectors.

The government is betting on turning opportunities into projects
During the announcement of the new session, Muhammad Yusser Barneyah, Syrian Minister of Finance, said that investment opportunities in the country are “promising in various sectors,” noting that the government is working to provide a legislative and investment environment that helps transform the presented opportunities into actual projects, with a role for the public and private sectors in the reconstruction phase.

A direct window for Arab tourism investments

For the Arab investor, the importance of the exhibition lies in that it opens a direct window to opportunities in hotels, tourism projects, and services related to destinations, and not just in real estate and construction. As for Arab tourists, any expansion of the hotel infrastructure and rehabilitation of sites and services may in the future be reflected in the ease of visiting Syrian cities and restoring part of their presence on the regional tourism map.

If Damascus succeeds in linking reconstruction with the development of hotels, destinations and services, “Emaar 2026” may transform from a construction exhibition into a gateway to reshaping the Syrian tourism scene.