What Emaar announced in 2026
On 18 May 2026 Emaar said it would exit the joint-venture structure behind The Eighth Gate and take the development forward on its own. The National reported the project’s value at US$500 million; the value of the exit itself was not disclosed.
Mohamed Alabbar, Emaar’s founder, called the decision “a statement of our unwavering belief in Syria”.
What the project includes
The Eighth Gate covers 300,000 sq m in Yafour, with commercial, retail, hospitality and residential zones. The name nods to the seven historic gates of Old Damascus.
A project with a long history
Emaar launched The Eighth Gate in 2005 as a joint venture with IGO, an investment and property development company. According to The Syrian Observer, Emaar’s Syrian projects, The Eighth Gate and Damascus Hills, were halted after 2011, and The Eighth Gate resurfaced in spring 2026.
What has not been published
When this guide was last reviewed, no construction timeline, unit counts, floor plans or prices had been published for The Eighth Gate. This page will be updated as Emaar releases them.
