{ "dataset": "Active and planned transit, transport and energy projects in Syria", "last_reviewed": "2026-08-15", "verification_note": "Each project links to the announcement or reporting it is drawn from. Announced values and timelines reflect operator or ministry statements and are subject to change. Nothing here constitutes investment, legal or sanctions-compliance advice.", "categories": ["Ports", "Roads", "Rail", "Energy", "Crossings", "Regional"], "items": [ { "id": "latakia-terminal-expansion", "name": "Latakia International Container Terminal expansion", "category": "Ports", "status": "Active", "lead": "CMA CGM, with AD Ports Group taking a minority stake", "value": "€200 million (≈ $170m)", "timeline": "Concession renewed 1 May 2025 · capacity to 625,000 TEU by end-2026", "location": "Latakia", "lat": 35.5225, "lng": 35.7708, "summary": "Extension and modernisation of Syria's main container terminal under a renewed 30-year concession.", "detail": "Terminal capacity rises from 250,000 TEU to a planned 625,000 TEU by end-2026, with a longer-term target above one million TEU. Scope covers terminal extension, digital operating platforms, advanced cargo handling and infrastructure upgrades to take vessels of up to 16 m draft. AD Ports Group signed an agreement in November 2025 to acquire a minority stake in LICT.", "sources": [ { "label": "AD Ports Group — minority stake in LICT", "url": "https://www.adportsgroup.com/en/news-and-media/2025/11/06/ad-ports-group-signs-agreement-with-cma-cgm-group-to-acquire-minority-stake-in-latakia-terminal" }, { "label": "Lloyd's List — Lattakia expansion to accelerate", "url": "https://www.lloydslist.com/LL1154591/Expansion-of-Syria%E2%80%99s-Lattakia-port-to-accelerate-with-new-agreement" }, { "label": "Shipping Australia — €200m Latakia investment", "url": "https://www.shippingaustralia.com.au/cma-cgm-to-invest-e200-million-in-latakia-port-expansion/" } ] }, { "id": "tartous-development", "name": "Port of Tartous development programme", "category": "Ports", "status": "Active", "lead": "DP World with the General Authority for Land and Sea Ports (GABC)", "value": "$800 million over the concession", "timeline": "Concession signed 13 July 2025 · operations commenced February 2026", "location": "Tartous", "lat": 34.8950, "lng": 35.8700, "summary": "30-year concession to modernise Tartous into a multi-cargo regional trade hub.", "detail": "Scope covers infrastructure upgrades, expanded operational capacity, and advanced cargo-handling and digital systems across containers, general cargo, breakbulk and ro-ro. DP World is additionally exploring logistics zones, inland freight hubs and transit corridors with local stakeholders — the element with the largest knock-on effect for inland Syrian logistics.", "sources": [ { "label": "DP World — 30-year Tartus concession", "url": "https://www.dpworld.com/en/news/dp-world-to-develop-syrias-tartus-port-under-landmark-30-year-deal" }, { "label": "DP World — operations commence at Tartus", "url": "https://www.dpworld.com/en/news/dp-world-commences-operations-at-tartus-port" }, { "label": "DP World / GABC — accelerating development plans", "url": "https://www.dpworld.com/en/news/dp-world-syrias-gabc-discuss-accelerating-port-of-tartous-development-plans" } ] }, { "id": "m5-rehabilitation", "name": "M5 corridor and national highway rehabilitation", "category": "Roads", "status": "Active", "lead": "Ministry of Transport · General Establishment for Road Transport", "value": "International tenders launched", "timeline": "Technical assessment of the 370 km Damascus–Aleppo autostrade launched June 2026", "location": "Nassib – Damascus – Homs – Hama – Aleppo", "lat": 34.7300, "lng": 36.7100, "summary": "Rehabilitation of the ~450 km M5 spine plus the Saraqib–Idlib link — the backbone of every Syrian overland corridor.", "detail": "The programme covers the Nassib–Damascus, Damascus–Homs and Homs–Aleppo highways together with the Saraqib–Idlib link, forming the M5 corridor from the Jordanian border in the south to the Turkish border near Azaz in the north. In June 2026 the General Establishment for Road Transport launched a comprehensive technical assessment covering roughly 370 km of the Damascus–Aleppo autostrade in both directions. Syria has launched international tenders for the works. The stated aim is to move goods between governorates and increase transit traffic with neighbouring countries.", "sources": [ { "label": "SANA — Syria launches international tenders for highway rehabilitation", "url": "https://sana.sy/en/syria/2329459/" }, { "label": "Rebuilding Syria — Damascus–Aleppo highway rehabilitation", "url": "https://www.rebuilding-syria.com/projects/damascus-aleppo-highway-rehabilitation" }, { "label": "Shafaq News — Syria launches major highway restoration plan", "url": "https://shafaq.com/en/Economy/Syria-launches-major-highway-restoration-plan" } ] }, { "id": "kirkuk-baniyas-revival", "name": "Kirkuk–Baniyas crude pipeline revival", "category": "Energy", "status": "Planned", "lead": "Governments of Iraq and Syria · Syrian Petroleum Company", "value": "$4.5bn–$8bn estimated", "timeline": "Two MoUs signed in Washington 17 July 2026 · 'three years at most' for Haditha–Baniyas renovation", "location": "Kirkuk – Haditha – Al-Qa'im – Homs – Baniyas", "lat": 35.1800, "lng": 35.9200, "summary": "Rehabilitation of the ~800–850 km Iraq-to-Mediterranean crude line, dormant since 2003, with a 2m bpd target.", "detail": "Iraq and Syria signed two memoranda of understanding in Washington on 17 July 2026 to rehabilitate and operate the pipeline. Cost estimates span $4.5bn to $8bn depending on the engineering pathway. Restoring the line would give Iraqi crude a Mediterranean outlet that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz entirely — the single largest strategic prize in Syria's transit portfolio.", "sources": [ { "label": "SyriacPress — MoUs signed to revive Kirkuk–Baniyas", "url": "https://syriacpress.com/blog/2026/07/18/syria-and-iraq-sign-two-memoranda-of-understanding-to-revive-kirkuk-baniyas-crude-oil-pipeline/" }, { "label": "Kurdistan24 — Iraq, Syria move to restore the pipeline", "url": "https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/926751/iraq-syria-move-to-restore-strategic-kirkuk-baniyas-oil-pipeline" }, { "label": "OilPrice — revival within three years", "url": "https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Iraq-Syria-Pipeline-to-Bypass-Hormuz-Could-Be-Revived-Within-3-Years.html" } ] }, { "id": "turkiye-syria-gas-link", "name": "Türkiye–Syria gas interconnector (Kilis–Aleppo)", "category": "Energy", "status": "Operational", "lead": "Syrian Gas Company with Turkish network operators · Qatari financing", "value": "Qatari-financed supply arrangement", "timeline": "Segment rehabilitated 2025 · flowing since August 2025", "location": "Türkoğlu – Kilis – Aleppo", "lat": 36.2021, "lng": 37.1343, "summary": "Live import route carrying Azerbaijani Shah Deniz gas into northern Syria through Türkiye.", "detail": "The Aleppo–Kilis segment was rehabilitated in 2025 and connected to the Turkish gas network at Türkoğlu via Kilis. It reopened in August 2025 and has since carried Azerbaijani gas from the Shah Deniz field southward into Syria under Qatari financing. It is the clearest working example of Syria functioning as an energy corridor rather than a blocked node.", "sources": [ { "label": "Global Energy Monitor — Arab Gas Pipeline", "url": "https://www.gem.wiki/Arab_Gas_Pipeline" }, { "label": "Karam Shaar Advisory — Arab Gas Pipeline & Syria", "url": "https://karamshaar.com/syria-in-figures/arab-gas-pipeline-syria-transit-state-or-energy-hub/" } ] }, { "id": "rail-rehabilitation", "name": "National rail rehabilitation and regional links", "category": "Rail", "status": "Active", "lead": "General Establishment of Syrian Railways · World Bank support", "value": "≈$100 million allocated to the Türkiye–Aleppo line", "timeline": "Amman–Damascus link targeted end-2026 · Jordan–Syria–Türkiye feasibility study due end-2026", "location": "Damascus – Homs – Aleppo – Turkish border", "lat": 36.2021, "lng": 37.1343, "summary": "Freight traffic up 59% in the first seven months of 2026 as core lines return to service.", "detail": "Syrian Railways moved 663,479 tonnes of freight through July 2026, against 417,859 tonnes in the same period of 2025 — a rise of nearly 59% — after crews repaired key routes using local expertise and parts. Work is under way on the Damascus–Aleppo line with plans to extend to the Turkish border; roughly $100 million is allocated to the Türkiye–Aleppo section. A trilateral meeting in Amman saw Jordan, Syria and Türkiye agree to cooperate on reviving the historic Hijaz alignment, with Jordan providing locomotive maintenance. Passenger service between Amman and Damascus is targeted for as early as end-2026, and the feasibility study for the Jordan–Syria–Türkiye link is expected to complete by end-2026.", "sources": [ { "label": "SANA — Syrian railway reports sharp rise in freight shipments", "url": "https://sana.sy/en/economic/2336191/" }, { "label": "Arab News — Syria's railways carry more freight as repairs revive vital routes", "url": "https://www.arabnews.com/node/2654703/middle-east" }, { "label": "Arab News — Damascus–Amman train link could be completed by 2026", "url": "https://www.arabnews.com/node/2618410/business-economy" }, { "label": "Rebuilding Syria — regional railway Saudi–Syria–Jordan–Türkiye–Europe", "url": "https://www.rebuilding-syria.com/projects/regional-railway-saudi-syria-jordan-turkey-europe" } ] }, { "id": "bab-al-hawa-expansion", "name": "Bab al-Hawa crossing rehabilitation and expansion", "category": "Crossings", "status": "Active", "lead": "Ministry of Public Works and Housing with the General Authority for Crossings and Customs", "value": "Ministry-executed infrastructure programme", "timeline": "Planned and under execution through 2026", "location": "Idlib governorate, Turkish border", "lat": 36.2247, "lng": 36.6706, "summary": "Capacity upgrade at Syria's busiest northern crossing, which handled over 500,000 travellers in H1 2026.", "detail": "The programme aims to raise the crossing's operational efficiency for both passenger movement and trade. Bab al-Hawa recorded more than 57,000 returnees and around 500,000 travellers in the first half of 2026, making throughput constraints there a national bottleneck.", "sources": [ { "label": "SANA — Bab al-Hawa rehabilitation and expansion begins", "url": "https://sana.sy/en/syria/2308652/" }, { "label": "Rebuilding Syria — Bab al-Hawa rehabilitation and expansion", "url": "https://www.rebuilding-syria.com/projects/bab-al-hawa-border-crossing-rehabilitation-idlib" }, { "label": "SANA — H1 2026 land border movement figures", "url": "https://sana.sy/en/syria/2335480/" } ] }, { "id": "new-homs-refinery", "name": "New 150,000 bpd refinery east of Homs", "category": "Energy", "status": "Planned", "lead": "Government of Syria", "value": "Announced — value not disclosed", "timeline": "Announced; construction schedule to be confirmed", "location": "≈50 km east of Homs", "lat": 34.7300, "lng": 37.2500, "summary": "New-build refinery announced to offset degradation at the ageing Baniyas plant.", "detail": "Syria's government has announced plans for a new refinery with a capacity of 150,000 barrels per day, to be built about 50 km east of Homs. The Baniyas Refinery, Syria's largest at 125,000 bpd nameplate, has been running at roughly 95,000 bpd because of facility degradation; the Homs Refinery holds 100,000 bpd capacity.", "sources": [ { "label": "The Arab Weekly — Syria to build new 150,000 bpd refinery", "url": "https://thearabweekly.com/syria-build-new-150000-bpd-oil-refinery-baniyas-refinerys-capacity-dwindles" }, { "label": "AGBI — Syria working on oil refinery and gas exploration", "url": "https://www.agbi.com/oil-and-gas/2025/11/syria-working-on-oil-refinery-and-natural-gas-exploration/" }, { "label": "PortsEurope — new refinery linked to Baniyas port", "url": "https://www.portseurope.com/new-oil-refinery-in-syria-linked-to-baniyas-port/" } ] }, { "id": "tripoli-gateway", "name": "Port of Tripoli as a Syria reconstruction gateway", "category": "Regional", "status": "Planned", "lead": "Port of Tripoli authority · Gulftainer · Tripoli Special Economic Zone", "value": "New 600 m container berth under construction", "timeline": "Ongoing expansion; Syria-facing corridor still to be built out", "location": "Tripoli, Lebanon — 30 km from the Syrian border", "lat": 34.4531, "lng": 35.8250, "summary": "Positioning Lebanon's second port as the Mediterranean outlet for Homs and central Syria.", "detail": "Tripoli sits 30 km from the Syrian border and has been described by Syria's president as the main logistical outlet linking Homs and central Syria to the Mediterranean. Gulftainer holds a 25-year container terminal concession awarded in 2012 taking capacity from 400,000 toward 800,000 containers annually, and a new 600 m berth with a 1,200,000 m² rear zone is under construction. Delivering the Syria-facing role requires completing the inland chain — road and rail links to the Syrian interior, a fast customs corridor and digitised cross-border procedures — and depends on the Jousiyeh / Al-Qaa and Al-Arida crossings.", "sources": [ { "label": "UN Logistics Cluster — DLCA, Port of Tripoli", "url": "https://lca.logcluster.org/lebanon-212-port-tripoli" }, { "label": "Tripoli Special Economic Zone", "url": "https://tsez.gov.lb/port-of-tripoli" }, { "label": "Noon Post — Syria and Lebanon reorder their interests", "url": "https://www.noonpost.com/en/379999/" } ] }, { "id": "free-zones", "name": "Free zone network reactivation", "category": "Regional", "status": "Active", "lead": "General Organisation for Free Zones", "value": "Existing zones being reopened to investment", "timeline": "Ongoing", "location": "Damascus, Adra, Hassia, Aleppo (al-Muslimiyah), Latakia, Tartous", "lat": 33.5138, "lng": 36.2765, "summary": "Free zones at Damascus, Damascus Airport, Adra, Hassia, Aleppo, Latakia and Tartous are open to investment.", "detail": "Zones available for investment include Damascus, Damascus International Airport, Adra in Rif Dimashq, Hassia in Homs governorate, Aleppo (al-Muslimiyah), the internal free zone at Latakia, and the port free zones at Latakia and Tartus. The Damascus Airport free zone in particular is being positioned as a regional transit hub. Adra and Hassia sit directly on the M5 spine, making them the natural inland consolidation points for a functioning north–south corridor.", "sources": [ { "label": "Enab Baladi — Damascus Airport free zone poised to become a regional transit hub", "url": "https://english.enabbaladi.net/archives/2025/11/damascus-airport-free-zone-poised-to-become-a-regional-transit-hub/" } ] } ] }