Marble City Planned for Homs
Syria's Ministry of Economy and Industry signed a memorandum of understanding on 31 August 2026 with Spanish company Palmera Mar to build a specialized industrial city for marble and natural stone processing in Hassia, in Homs Governorate. The agreement was concluded during the 63rd Damascus International Fair.
The project is designed to concentrate quarrying, cutting, and finishing operations for marble and natural stone in a single dedicated zone, with the stated aim of raising value-added production and widening the sector's industrial base.
Investment in Phases
The first phase carries an investment of about US$30 million (USD), a figure that could rise to roughly $200 million as later stages are added. The company backing the plan is targeting 50 percent foreign participation among the factories to be established on the site.
Developers set a three-month window to begin operations, a short timeline for a project of this scale.
If the later phases proceed, the jump from the initial outlay to the full $200 million would rank the plan among the larger single-sector industrial commitments presented at this year's fair.
Land and Jobs
The industrial city would open on an initial 200-hectare site, with room to expand to 1,400 hectares. Plans call for close to 1,000 specialized marble and stone manufacturing facilities once the zone is fully built out.
Officials linked to the agreement projected about 10,000 jobs during construction, followed by 15,000 direct permanent positions and a further 30,000 indirect jobs tied to the wider supply chain.
Taken together, the permanent roles would total roughly 45,000 once the zone and its supply chain are fully active.
Exports and Regional Reach
The plan frames the marble city as serving domestic demand first while positioning Syria to export processed stone to neighboring countries and regional markets. Marble and natural stone are among the raw materials the country holds in commercial quantities.
The memorandum is one of several investment agreements presented during the Damascus fair as authorities court foreign capital for reconstruction and industry.