Arada announced on September 1, 2026, that it is developing New Damascus, a fully integrated community on a site west of Damascus near the Mezzeh district. The project marks the company’s entry into a fourth international market and represents one of its largest expansion moves to date.
The development will feature 11,000 residential units comprising apartments, villas, townhouses and branded residences, alongside 500 hotel rooms, 1,000 serviced apartments, a 300-bed hospital, education facilities for 5,000 students, and office and retail space. A 700,000-square-metre public park will anchor the community.
The site is located on a plateau approximately 10 minutes from Damascus city centre and 25 minutes from Damascus International Airport, according to the developer.
Arada said the master plan will be developed in partnership with Syrian government authorities and aligned with the country’s reconstruction priorities. No construction timeline, project completion date or financing structure was disclosed.
“Syria is at a pivotal moment in its history, and the scale of the opportunity to rebuild and invest in its future is significant,” said Arada Executive Vice Chairman Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal.
He added that the company would apply its experience in developing large-scale communities to create jobs, develop local skills and support Syrian businesses.
The agreement was signed in Damascus by Arada Group CEO Ahmed Alkhoshaibi and Mohammed Al Khayyat, Board Member and CEO of the Real Estate Development Sector at the Syrian Sovereign Fund. The fund was established by Presidential Decree No. 113 on June 24, 2025, with a mandate to manage state assets and attract international investment.
“Syria welcomes businesses and companies from around the world, and this strategic partnership with Arada is a powerful demonstration of what that means in practice,” said Mohammed Al Khayyat.
Arada said it is working with the Syrian Sovereign Fund to identify further development sites across Syria, although no additional projects or values were disclosed. The company’s overall project pipeline is now valued at $42 billion, with more than 66,000 homes across the UAE, UK, Australia and Syria.
The development model for New Damascus draws on Arada’s UAE communities Aljada and Masaar, positioning the project as a master-planned development rather than a standalone residential scheme.
The Syria project follows Arada’s recent international moves, including strong performance by UAE developers in the first half of 2026 and the company’s expansion into new markets beyond the Gulf.
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