Abyat Real Estate issued a statement on Sunday, September 27, threatening legal action against anyone who caused damage at its worksite, in response to demonstrations held a day earlier by dozens of residents from the Dummar Suburb, Qudsaya, al-Bajjaa, and Muadamiyat al-Sham areas in Damascus and Rural Damascus. 

The protesters demanded that the Abyat Hills and Sham View projects be halted on land they said had been expropriated from them, according to statements they gave to Enab Baladi. 

Demonstrators wrote slogans on advertising boards for the Abyat Hills project at the construction site, including “Down with Assad’s rule,” “Seized land,” “People’s property,” “Thieves,” “Expropriated land,” and “Down with housing.”

Participants also chanted, “The people want the expropriation overturned,” “We don’t need any more thieves,” and “The people want the companies brought down.”

Work Will Continue

The company said in its statement that construction work in the area would continue, stressing that it remained committed to preserving the rights of anyone who could prove a legitimate claim through government institutions and the courts.

It called on anyone possessing relevant documents to resort to legal channels rather than obstruct construction work or cause material damage.

Company Questions Protesters’ Connection to Land

Commenting on events at the project site, the company said most of those who entered the site and participated in the protests “had no connection to the land on which the project is being built.” It said the gathering included individuals and groups who had come from different areas and was not limited to people claiming direct ownership within the project’s designated property boundaries.

Abyat stressed the need to distinguish between the right to pursue property claims through legally guaranteed channels and entering the project site or attacking property and workers. It said any such attack constituted a violation of the law and could expose those responsible to criminal and civil liability.

The company added that it was “not a party to the dispute” over land ownership and said work had begun under official contracts and applicable regulations.

Legal Recourse Through Relevant Authorities

The company said its role was limited to that of an “investor and developer” under its contractual obligations, adding that its decision to invest in Syria stemmed from what it described as a commitment to contributing to the country’s construction and development phase.

It also expressed confidence in state institutions and their ability to adjudicate ownership claims and restore rights to their owners when claims are proven through proper legal procedures.

The company concluded its statement by saying that the legal measures it planned to take would not target people with legitimate claims or anyone who turns to the courts. Rather, it said, they would apply only to violations and acts committed inside the project site and to those proven responsible. The company also said its work would continue in coordination with the relevant authorities to protect its staff and property.

Saudi-based Abyat Investment and Real Estate Development Company, in cooperation with Syria’s General Housing Establishment, launched the Abyat Hills project on June 6 this year in the E3 area of Qudsaya Suburb, Rural Damascus.

The project covers about 380,000 square meters and includes more than 2,000 housing units designed according to modern planning and service standards, with a four-year completion plan.

The company was founded in 2005 and initially specialized in finishing and furniture work in the Gulf region before expanding into real estate development projects.