Photos of Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani’s meeting with US envoy Thomas Barrack in Istanbul on Thursday, October 8, showed the two officials seated once again in a garden overlooking the Golden Horn, previously seen in photographs of their meeting on August 17.

Neither side’s official announcements specified the venue for either meeting, saying only that they took place in Istanbul.

Enab Baladi examined photographs of both meetings to identify the venue, its ownership, and the investor behind it, who also met Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus earlier this year.

A comparison of the published photographs from both meetings shows a match with images of the waterfront terrace at Aliée Istanbul, a hotel within the Tersane Istanbul development on the northern shore of the Golden Horn.

Enab Baladi cross-referenced the photographs from both meetings with the historical landmarks visible in them. Galata Tower appears in the background, while the famous Fatih Mosque and Yavuz Selim Mosque stand on the opposite side.

The location of the hotel where Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and US envoy Thomas Barrack met in Istanbul (Enab Baladi, edited using artificial intelligence).

This is consistent with Turkish journalist Cansu Çamlıbel’s account in an article on the website T24, which stated that Barrack’s meeting with Shaibani in Istanbul took place at businessman Fettah Tamince’s hotel within the Tersane development.

According to a statement from Syria’s Foreign Ministry, Thursday’s meeting addressed bilateral relations, regional developments, and cooperation on matters of mutual interest.

The August meeting focused on Syria’s economic recovery priorities, completing the lifting of sanctions, and reconstruction, according to the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani meets Thomas Barrack, the US presidential special envoy for Syria and Iraq, in Istanbul, August 17, 2026 (SANA).

What Is the Hotel?

The hotel occupies an area that was once part of the Ottoman naval shipyard, which housed workshops and facilities for building and maintaining ships.

The Tersane Istanbul development is transforming the historic industrial site into a district featuring hotels, restaurants, museums, cultural and residential spaces, and a yacht marina, according to the project’s official website.

Aliée opened in 2025 and incorporates restored historic buildings, including an old hammam converted into a private suite. The hotel operates in partnership with Paris Society, according to its official website.

Who Is the Investor?

The investor behind the hotel is Turkish businessman Fettah Tamince, founder and chairman of the Rixos hotel chain and chairman of FTG Development, which developed the Tersane project.

Tamince discussed launching the Aliée brand within the development in remarks published by the newspaper Ekonomim in September 2024.

The land on which the Tersane development stands is publicly owned and was made available for investment under a 49-year build-operate-transfer contract.

Tamince said the contract provides for four years of construction and 45 years of operation. Türkiye’s Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure confirmed that the project follows this model, with the company paying rent to the state.

The development has drawn criticism in the Turkish press over the conversion of a heritage site and public land into luxury facilities and residential and investment properties.

In a report published in 2022, the newspaper Sözcü said Abdulkadir Kart, a former lawmaker from the ruling Justice and Development Party, became a partner in the project after Tamince won the tender.

Barrack also has a publicly documented connection to the venue and the investor behind it. In August 2025, he posted praise for Aliée, mentioned being there with Tamince, and linked the hotel’s design to the culture of the Ottoman divan, according to the Turkish website Turizm Ekonomi.

Tamince also met Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the People’s Palace in Damascus on May 4, 2026. They discussed investment opportunities in tourism, hotels, and other sectors, as Enab Baladi previously reported.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa meets Turkish businessman Fettah Tamince, May 4, 2026 (SANA).

Amid Regional Tensions

Official statements did not explain why the venue was chosen repeatedly, nor did they link its hosting of the two Shaibani-Barrack meetings to any specific investment or political agreement.

The latest meeting came amid intensive diplomatic contacts and escalating regional tensions, alongside Saudi requests for a potential Syrian role in the war against the Houthis in Yemen.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on October 6.

While diplomatic sources told Reuters that Saudi Arabia had requested military support from Syria in the war, Syria’s Ministry of Information affirmed its support for Riyadh against threats to its security and stability. It also reiterated its commitment to a regional policy based on stability, peace, and cooperation, rather than opening new fronts.