Fair Closes With Record Output
The 63rd Damascus International Fair generated economic output exceeding 150 billion Syrian pounds (SYP), organizers said on 5 September 2026 as the event drew to a close. The run attracted roughly 1.4 million visitors over its duration.
About 1,000 local, Arab and international bodies took part in this edition, representing close to 60 countries. Organizers presented the figures as the strongest set of results the annual event has recorded to date.
Tenfold Jump on Last Year
The result marks more than a tenfold increase over the previous edition, which produced economic outcomes of around $100 million (USD). The director general of the state body overseeing international exhibitions called this year's event "a true turning point."
He said the fair had moved beyond "a traditional product display space" into an integrated platform for business, investment, production and partnership building, reflecting a shift in how the event is positioned.
Deals Across Key Sectors
The reported results combined signed contracts, memoranda of understanding, production orders and commercial and investment agreements. They spanned industry, agriculture, transport, water, energy, infrastructure, tourism and logistics.
Among the largest single commitments were industrial projects in the Hassia area valued at roughly $500 million (USD), pointing to fresh activity in domestic manufacturing.
Foreign Pavilions Return
The edition drew significant Saudi, Turkish and other Arab participation. An official German pavilion returned for the first time in more than 40 years, among several foreign delegations that widened this year's presence at the grounds.
A Year-Round Platform
Organizers also launched the Damascus Economic Forum, described as a year-round platform intended to sustain business and investment contacts between the annual editions rather than concentrating them in a single week. They said it is meant to keep negotiations active throughout the year.