Alabbar Unveils Transformative $16 Billion Investment Vision for Syria
Mohamed Alabbar, Founder and Managing Director of Emaar Properties, has outlined an ambitious investment programme spanning $16 to $17 billion in real estate and tourism development across Syria, emphasising the nation's substantial resources and the importance of principled, long-term economic partnership.
Speaking at the RISE Summit 2026 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, Mohamed Alabbar articulated a compelling vision for development in markets navigating complex economic and geopolitical landscapes. His presentation, delivered during a session examining investment strategies across economic cycles, underscored the transformative potential of Syria’s considerable natural endowments and human capital.
The proposed investment programme, ranging between $16 billion and $17 billion, reflects Alabbar’s conviction that markets facing contemporary challenges present genuine opportunities for those equipped with rigorous feasibility analysis and unwavering commitment to social responsibility. Syria’s agricultural heritage, water resources, hydrocarbon reserves and indigenous expertise constitute, in his assessment, the essential foundations upon which enduring development projects may be constructed.
Alabbar’s recent personal visit to Syria afforded him the opportunity to evaluate investment prospects directly, and he expressed profound appreciation for the professionalism and collaborative spirit demonstrated by Syrian officials and governmental representatives. He articulated the conviction that investment decisions must emanate from transparent economic reasoning, with projects structured to generate employment, stimulate business development, enliven local economies and augment government revenues.
Addressing the extended timescales characteristic of major infrastructure endeavours, Alabbar emphasised that projects of this magnitude frequently span two decades or longer, necessitating the cultivation of sustainable community relationships alongside unwavering commitment to transparency and ethical stewardship. He articulated the principle that Emirati enterprises operating internationally carry a responsibility to contribute meaningfully to development and elevate quality of life within the territories where they establish operations.
Reflecting upon Emaar Properties’ resilience, Alabbar revealed that the company maintains a real estate sales backlog of approximately AED150 billion, with customer payment compliance remaining robust. The company typically facilitates around 4,000 property unit sales monthly, whilst cancellations have declined from approximately 1,200 units during periods of regional instability to fewer than 600 currently, signalling renewed buyer confidence and sustained demand resilience.
Notably, Alabbar reaffirmed Emaar’s commitment to maintaining equitable pricing structures and standardised payment terms regardless of market conditions, ensuring fairness amongst customers and protecting those who have previously committed to established prices. This principled approach contrasts with competitors who resort to substantial discounting to manage cash flow pressures.
Commenting on property valuations, Alabbar observed that Dubai’s real estate remains competitively positioned relative to prestigious international markets including London, Singapore, Chicago and Mumbai, particularly when assessed according to cost per square metre and location-specific characteristics rather than aggregate market benchmarks alone.
Within the hospitality domain, occupancy rates have improved to between 60 and 65 per cent, reflecting favourable performance under prevailing circumstances. The sector has benefited from growth trajectories spanning 20 to 30 per cent over the preceding four years, enabling enterprises to establish financial reserves adequate to weather periods of diminished economic activity.
Alabbar highlighted recent innovations in construction methodology, citing automated systems and robotic technologies that enabled the completion of a 15-storey building in merely 12 days, whilst achieving 100 per cent energy efficiency improvements and quadrupling earthquake resistance relative to conventional construction approaches. He underscored that whilst technological advancement accelerates delivery and enhances efficiency, human expertise remains irreplaceable for supervisory and operational functions.
Addressing artificial intelligence, Alabbar cautioned that enterprises failing to integrate AI comprehensively within their operational frameworks during the forthcoming 12 months risk experiencing competitive disadvantage, given the expanding capabilities of intelligent systems in analytical, predictive and decision-making functions. He stressed, however, that technological progress demands rather than eliminates human talent, requiring employees to develop sophisticated capabilities and collaborate more intimately with intelligent systems.
Concluding his address, Alabbar emphasised that sustainable corporate growth and resilience amid global transformation depend fundamentally upon long-term strategic planning, investment in technology and human capital development, and the preservation of customer confidence. He reiterated that continuous performance improvement and rigorous risk preparedness constitute essential elements of enduring success in an evolving economic environment.
Source: WAM