Syria seeks major investors as 180 industrial zones resume operations, says official  

Syria’s infrastructure remains dilapidated, requiring upgrades to roads, water, electricity, and telephone networks. AL-EQTISADIAH
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Updated 28 January 2026
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Syria seeks major investors as 180 industrial zones resume operations, says official  

RIYADH: Syria will need $100 billion to invest in infrastructure and $300 billion to develop its real estate sector over the next 10 years, Dhafer Al-Omar, assistant minister for administrative affairs at the Ministry of Local Administration and Environment, told Al-Eqtisadiah. 

Speaking on the sidelines of the Real Estate Future Forum in Riyadh, Al-Omar said: “Today, we have five industrial cities and more than 180 industrial zones that have rapidly resumed operations. There is a strong push to attract major companies to establish factories in Syria.” 

The Syrian official added that the country’s participation in the forum aimed to learn from successful experiences in the sector and to open doors for real estate investment in Syria through opportunities linked to infrastructure development. 

He highlighted the attraction of numerous real estate companies and the signing of memoranda of understanding with Saudi and international firms during exhibitions focused on Syria’s reconstruction. 

He noted that the country’s infrastructure remains dilapidated, requiring upgrades to roads, water, electricity, and telephone networks. 

Al‑Omar also pointed out that Syria’s trade balance and exports continue to grow, driven by the industrial, agricultural, and textile sectors, alongside a strategic push to issue licenses for new engineering companies. 

These efforts are part of a broader drive to develop infrastructure and modernize land and cadastral registries — preliminary steps aimed at facilitating and streamlining real estate development. 

The official emphasized that Syria’s real estate investment market now represents a promising destination, offering attractive opportunities for developers looking to enter the sector. 


Saudi industrial output rises 8.9% in December: GASTAT 

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Saudi industrial output rises 8.9% in December: GASTAT 

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s industrial production rose 8.9 percent in December from a year earlier, driven by stronger mining and manufacturing activity, signaling continued momentum in the Kingdom’s non-oil and energy sectors. 

The Industrial Production Index reached 113.6 in December, up from 104.3 a year earlier, the General Authority for Statistics said.  

The latest IPI figures underscore continued momentum in the Kingdom’s industrial sector as Saudi Arabia pursues economic diversification under its Vision 2030 agenda. 

In its latest report, GASTAT stated: “Preliminary results indicate an increase of 8.9 percent in the IPOI in December 2025 compared to the same month of the previous year, supported by the rise in mining and quarrying activity, manufacturing activity and water supply, sewerage and waste management and remediation activities.”  

Mining and quarrying activity — the largest component of the index — increased 13.2 percent year on year after Saudi Arabia raised oil production to 10.1 million barrels per day from 8.9 million bpd a year earlier. Manufacturing expanded 3.2 percent, supported by a 13.4 percent rise in chemicals output and a 7.3 percent increase in food production. 

The sub-index of electricity, gas, steam and air-conditioning supply activity recorded an annual decrease of 2.5 percent. 

The sub-index of water supply, sewerage and waste management and remediation activities increased 9.4 percent. 

Compared to November, Saudi Arabia’s IPI recorded a marginal decline of 0.1 percent. 

On a monthly basis, the sub-index of mining and quarrying activity increased 0.3 percent. 

Manufacturing activities also rose 0.3 percent in December compared to the previous month, driven by a 2.8 percent increase in the manufacture of chemicals and chemical products. 

Compared to November, the manufacture of food products increased 9.6 percent in December. 

Overall, the index of oil activities advanced 10.1 percent year on year in December, while non-oil activities increased 5.8 percent. 

Compared to November, oil activities decreased 0.3 percent, while non-oil activities increased 0.4 percent. 

The IPI measures changes in industrial output based on the International Standard Industrial Classification framework and covers mining, manufacturing, utilities and waste management sectors.