For the first time since the fall of the Syrian regime on December 8, Syria’s transitional president, Ahmed al-sharaa, visited Homs province (central Syria).

He laid the foundation stone for a series of development projects, including the “Dar al-Salam” package, the “Homs Boulevard” project, and the “Syrian Oil Transport Company” (IPC) project.

Al-sharaa met Homs governor Abdel-Rahman al-Ama at the governorate building, along with dignitaries and community leaders, according to the official Syrian Presidency Facebook page.

In a short speech delivered from the balcony of the governorate building on Friday, August 29, al-sharaa declared that “the time of war is over, and the time of reconstruction has begun. Just as the old regime destroyed the city, its people will rebuild it today.”

During the years of the Syrian revolution, Homs was heavily bombarded by the army of ousted president Bashar al-Assad, leaving 3,082 buildings completely destroyed, 5,750 severely damaged, and 4,946 partially damaged, with a total of 13,778 affected structures, according to UN figures.

The IPC Oil Transport Project

This project is based on an agreement with Saudi company Bayt al-Ibaa, owned by members of the al-Hakmi family from Homs.

The agreement stipulates the development of a real estate project in Homs on an area of about 270,000 square meters in the Karm al-Shami district near the railway station, in cooperation with the Syrian Oil Transport Company (IPC).

The project is described as fully non-profit, with all revenues dedicated to supporting vulnerable groups in Syrian society.

The “Homs Boulevard” Project

According to Homs governorate, the “Boulevard al-Nasr” project is a multifunctional urban development that goes beyond residential housing, aiming to create an integrated urban area. It will include:

• Construction of 4,500 modern housing units.

• Rehabilitation of al-Nasr Park as a public recreational space.

• Establishment of commercial and investment facilities.

• Creation of a new wholesale market to meet the needs of traders and residents.

• Development of new infrastructure networks for water, electricity, sanitation, gas, and roads, with architectural designs reflecting the city’s identity and serving all social groups.

• The project is expected to provide around 15,000 direct and indirect jobs during implementation, offering a significant economic boost to a city long plagued by stagnation.

The boulevard will extend from the start of Nizar Qabbani Street to the al-Mimas area. It is one of several targeted reconstruction projects aimed at reviving Homs, which continues to suffer from widespread infrastructure damage and a severe road network crisis. According to provincial officials, 13 neighborhoods still require new urban planning schemes.

Previous Domestic Visits

Al-sharaa had earlier visited Idlib province (northwestern Syria) on February 15, marking his first domestic trip since taking office, beginning with a tour of displacement camps in Idlib.

In the same round, he visited Aleppo, meeting community figures along with governor Azzam Gharib. Local authorities said an open dialogue session was held with al-sharaa, attended by city and countryside dignitaries, men and women alike, along with officials, to discuss the country’s situation and ways to revive both Syria and Aleppo at multiple levels.

Al-sharaa then traveled to Latakia on February 16, following his stops in Idlib and Aleppo. The Latakia governorate posted footage on Facebook showing crowds of citizens welcoming him.

On June 6, coinciding with the first day of Eid al-Adha, the president visited Daraa province (southern Syria).