Project Launch and Official Context

Damascus Governorate, in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism, launched the Qassioun Journey project at Mount Qassioun during a ceremony held on the evening of Tuesday 21 April 2026 at the Damascus Opera House. The event was attended by several ministers, the governors of Damascus and Rif Dimashq, the Presidential Adviser for Media Affairs, as well as ambassadors and representatives of economic and investment bodies.

The project's official platform names Damascus Governorate as the owner of the project and the body that manages and implements it. Minister of Tourism Mazen al-Salhani said at the launch that the ministry had contributed its technical and legislative expertise to support Damascus projects.

Development Vision

Damascus Governor Maher Marwan Idlbi stated that the project integrates tourism, economic, social and cultural dimensions. He described Qassioun Journey as the first Syrian project to combine these sectors within a single framework, and said it complements rather than replaces the governorate's priorities in infrastructure, services and the return of displaced persons.

Project Components

The descriptions below are taken from the project's official website. The accompanying images are design renderings, not photographs of completed works; the official website describes the project's stations as still under development.

Flower Garden

The Flower Garden is presented on the official website as the gateway to the journey and the zone closest to the city, with green spaces and a three-storey restaurant offered for lease.

Damascus Cable Car (Planned)

A cable car was presented at the launch to run from the Umayyad Park area up Mount Qassioun over a stated length of 2.4 kilometres, alongside an underground multi-storey car park. The project's official website presents the cable car ascent station (Umayyad Park – Al-Alam Square) as an investment opportunity covering the design, construction, management and operation of the cable car transport service and its associated services. As of 5 October 2026, however, it is not among the opportunities listed in the opportunities section of the same platform, where the investment opportunities category is still marked as coming soon. The governor said at the launch that no investment opportunities had been granted apart from the parking facilities project.

Embrace of Nature

Terraces built from natural stone within an organised layout, with views over Damascus.

Bee Kingdom

An architectural form based on hexagonal beehive geometry, with circulation paths and seating areas intended for groups.

Fruit of Nature

The entertainment component, covering gaming, dining and events, with spaces planned for families.

Mushroom World

A facility designed to sit within the rocky terrain, with outdoor seating and glass facades providing views over the city.

Qassioun Wings

Spaces and walkways laid out to provide elevated views over Damascus.

Bridge of Memories

A glass-floored walkway that extends like a wing, presented as a viewing and photography point over the city.

Handicrafts Cave

A space for Syrian craft and heritage products, designed with stone facades following the mountain's contours.

Celebration Square

An open plaza with an amphitheatre, planned as a venue for events.

Qassioun Walkway

A pedestrian route with lighting, seating areas and viewing points over the city.

Qassioun Mosque

According to the project's official website, the mosque spans 660 square metres across two floors, with separate sections for men and women each having its own entrance, and accommodates around 450 worshippers.

Other stated components include free public seating areas and pedestrian pathways, an innovation boulevard for young people, spaces for traditional crafts, public services and accessibility routes for persons with disabilities, and new electrical and sanitation infrastructure. Syria TV reports that, at the launch, the governorate also announced, within a plan to rehabilitate and develop Mount Qassioun, an internal transport system using mass-transit vehicles from several main stations, the rehabilitation of Al-Shami Park, kiosks and shops, and an amphitheatre and children's theatre.

Access and Investment

Governor Idlbi stated that 70 percent of the project is free and open to the public. Damascus Governorate told Al-Ikhbariah on 23 April 2026 that 70 percent of public services would be free of charge and 30 percent paid, and that all beneficiaries of the project are required to employ Syrian workers. Idlbi also said that no investment opportunities had been granted apart from the parking facilities project, and that the remaining opportunities would be offered through a digital platform.

Reported Construction Progress

At the launch, the Deputy Governor of Damascus for Technical Affairs, Moammar Dakak, presented the technical and engineering works under way on the mountain. According to official governorate information reported by Al-Watan on 22 April 2026, specialists from Damascus University prepared the project's structural study, and after 86 percent of the construction works had been completed, a committee from Damascus University and the Engineers Syndicate was formed to audit the structural elements built.

Announced Economic Impact

Governor Idlbi announced more than 7,000 job opportunities alongside hundreds of small and medium investment prospects. Minister of Tourism Mazen al-Salhani stated that the project was executed entirely by Syrian engineers and workers.

Announced Timeline

At the launch in April 2026, the governor stated that the targeted opening of most components was the end of summer 2026, and the governorate told Al-Ikhbariah two days later that the first phase would begin operating by the end of that summer, with openings following gradually. On 16 September 2026, the governor said the final phase of works was being completed ahead of the project's opening in summer 2027. The Minister of Tourism announced at the launch that similar projects would be launched in other governorates, beginning with Rif Dimashq.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who launched the Qassioun Journey project and when?

Damascus Governorate, in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism, launched it at a ceremony on the evening of 21 April 2026 at the Damascus Opera House. The governorate is the project owner.

Where is the project located?

On Mount Qassioun, overlooking the city of Damascus.

Is the cable car operating?

No. A 2.4-kilometre cable car from the Umayyad Park area up Mount Qassioun was presented at the launch. The official website presents its ascent station as an investment opportunity covering design, construction, management and operation; as of 5 October 2026 it is not among the opportunities listed in the platform's opportunities section.

How many jobs is the project expected to create?

The governor announced more than 7,000 expected job opportunities alongside hundreds of small and medium investment prospects.

How much of the project is free to the public?

The governor stated that 70 percent of the project is free and open to the public. The governorate told Al-Ikhbariah that 70 percent of public services would be free of charge and 30 percent paid.

What construction progress has been reported?

Official governorate information reported by Al-Watan on 22 April 2026 put completion of construction works at 86 percent. The final phase covers superstructures, external finishes and water, sewage and electricity networks.

Who is financing the final phase?

Al Baraka Bank Syria, QNB Syria and the Commercial Bank of Syria, through a syndicated bank facility in Islamic-finance form whose agreement was signed on 16 September 2026 under the sponsorship of the Ministry of Finance.

When is the project expected to open?

In April 2026 the governor targeted the end of summer 2026 for most components. On 16 September 2026 he said the remaining works were being completed ahead of an opening in summer 2027.

UPDATE 02.08.2026

No opening has been announced. The project's official website describes the stations as still under development.

Current activity is commercial rather than operational. Through the project's official platform, Damascus Governorate has been releasing leasing offerings station by station: an offering announcement for the Flower Garden on 3 June 2026, for the Bee Kingdom on 8 June 2026, and a call for technical and financial offers for the gaming halls inside the Fruit of Nature building opened on 23 July 2026 and closes on 13 August 2026.

On the same platform, only the leasing track is active. The Investment Opportunities, Contracting and Undertakings, Service Providers, Tenders and Supplies, Startup Collaborations and Career Opportunities categories are all still marked as forthcoming. The cable car has not been awarded and does not appear among the opportunities listed on the platform.

The most recent construction figure remains 86 percent of construction works, reported by Al-Watan on 22 April 2026.

UPDATE 05.10.2026

Bank financing for the final phase. On Wednesday 16 September 2026, an agreement was signed at the Ministry of Finance, under its sponsorship, for a syndicated bank facility in Islamic-finance form involving Al Baraka Bank Syria, QNB Syria and the Commercial Bank of Syria. According to SANA, the facility funds the Al-Mujtahid–Bab Musalla tunnel and the completion of the final phase of Qassioun Journey. Minister of Finance Mohammad Yisr Barnieh described it as the first facility of its kind in Syria. QNB Group announced the launch of the facility on 24 September 2026.

New opening target: summer 2027. Governor Maher Marwan Idlbi said on 16 September 2026 that the Qassioun Journey works being financed cover the completion of superstructures, external finishes and water, sewage and electricity networks, ahead of the project's opening in summer 2027. The target announced in April 2026 was the end of summer 2026.

Leasing rounds. The project platform lists eleven leasing tender rounds announced by Damascus Governorate between 3 June and 11 August 2026: a restaurant in the Flower Garden (3 June), a restaurant in the Bee Kingdom (8 June), family gaming halls in the Fruit of Nature (23 July; the platform now lists a closing date of 30 August 2026, whereas it listed 13 August on 2 August), and eight Bee Kingdom restaurants offered for a second time on 11 August with a closing date of 31 August 2026.

Status on 5 October 2026. The official website still describes the project's stations as under development. Leasing remains the only active category on the platform; the other categories, including investment opportunities, are marked as coming soon. The cable car, which the website's home page presents as an investment opportunity, is not among the listed opportunities.