Why the two get confused
The founder is the same person, and for many buyers his name is shorthand for Emaar. When his plans for Syria were reported in 2026, it was easy to read them as Emaar’s plans.
History adds to it. Emaar was in Syria before 2011 with two projects, The Eighth Gate and Damascus Hills. Eagle Hills’ new Damascus community is called Damascus Heights, and its Arabic name, تلال دمشق, translates literally as “Damascus Hills”.
What the reporting says
Semafor reported in July 2026 that Alabbar plans at least US$20 billion of developments in Damascus and Latakia, and that they will be run through Eagle Hills, his Abu Dhabi-based firm, rather than through Dubai-based Emaar.
Emaar’s own activity in Syria is The Eighth Gate. In May 2026 the company said it would leave the project’s joint venture and develop it alone.
What it means if you are buying
Check the developer named on the reservation form and sales contract. A home at Damascus Heights or Latakia Yachts & Marina is bought from Eagle Hills, not from Emaar, and the brand, the contract and the after-sales service follow from that.
