The Syrian Ministry of Tourism announced the completion of contractual arrangements with Rotana Star Contracting and Westfield Sons, paving the way for the implementation of a major integrated hospitality and tourism development in the Kafr Sousa district of Damascus.
The project forms part of the Ministry’s
broader strategy to strengthen tourism infrastructure, attract high-quality
private investment, and develop landmark hospitality projects in partnership
with the private sector, in line with approved regulatory frameworks.
The new development will comprise a
large-scale mixed-use destination, designed as an integrated urban hub
combining premium hospitality, retail, and service offerings.
The project includes a five-star hotel,
formerly known as Mövenpick, alongside “Mall Alarab”, which is set to become
the largest commercial and service mall in Damascus.
In addition to hotel accommodation and
retail components, the project will feature dedicated leisure and supporting
service areas, enhancing functional integration and visitor experience.
The development has been planned according
to modern urban and architectural standards and will be operated by an
international hotel management company, ensuring global service benchmarks and
a high-quality guest experience.
Strategically located in the heart of
Damascus, the project supports the Ministry’s vision to expand hotel capacity,
improve visitor experience, and stimulate tourism-driven economic activity,
contributing to the capital’s positioning as a competitive urban tourism
destination.
Mazen Al Salhani, Minister of Tourism,
said: “At the Ministry of Tourism, we remain committed to advancing our policy
of attracting high-quality tourism investments and providing a supportive
regulatory environment that ensures execution excellence and operational
sustainability. This project reflects our vision to deliver integrated tourism
developments that meet international standards and reinforce Damascus’s
position as a tourism and investment destination through effective
public-private partnerships.”
In a related statement, Yusuf Senkeri,
Co-Founder and Director of Westfield Sons, stated: “We view this project as a
long-term investment opportunity and are committed to delivering it in line
with global best practices in development and operations. This partnership
reflects mutual trust with public authorities and aims to create a fully
integrated project that adds tangible value to the tourism sector, enhances
hospitality and commercial services, and supports Damascus’s long-term
investment landscape.”
Commenting on the execution phase, Moaaz Alkafri,
Founder of Rotana Star, said: “We are working in close
coordination with the relevant authorities to ensure delivery in accordance
with the approved timeline. Our focus at this stage is on attracting
international hospitality and retail brands, building a fully integrated
destination that reflects international quality standards and delivers a
distinctive shopping and leisure experience for both residents and visitors.”
The project will be implemented according
to an approved phased development schedule, allowing for the partial operation
of ready components where feasible, thereby accelerating economic returns while
maintaining overall project integrity.
The development is being executed on land
owned by Damascus Governorate, under a structured investment agreement that
reinforces public-private partnership principles and ensures the optimal use of
public assets in support of sustainable tourism and economic development. -TradeArabia News Service
