Kuwaiti company cancels construction project in Homs after local opposition
HOMS, Syria (North Press) – The Kuwaiti company al-Omran for Development and Real Estate Investment announced on Saturday the cancellation of the reconstruction project in the al-Qarabis neighborhood of Homs, central Syria, following strong opposition from local residents.
In an official statement posted on its official Facebook, the company said: “In coordination with the Governor of Homs, we announce the full cancellation of the al-Qarabis neighborhood reconstruction project, which was part of the Victory Boulevard plan.”
The announcement came after widespread protests in al-Qarabis, where dozens of residents demanded that the project be halted and that real estate transaction restrictions in the neighborhood be lifted. Demonstrators carried banners reading, “Al-Qarabis does not agree… Boulevard rejected.”
Despite the cancellation, al-Omran confirmed its commitment to implementing all other projects included in the Victory Boulevard plan.
Early in August, the Syrian transitional government had signed a memorandum of understanding with the Kuwaiti company to launch the al-Qarabis reconstruction project, which aimed at a comprehensive redevelopment of the neighborhood’s urban fabric.
Salem Abu al-Saud, Deputy Governor of Homs for Media Affairs, said the project was not intended to displace residents. He explained that Victory Boulevard differs from previous projects in Syria because it would allow people to move directly into newly built homes within the same neighborhood once construction was complete.
He added: “The plan began with two main blocks in the wholesale market and the tanneries sector, with clear compensation mechanisms set by the governorate to guarantee the rights of residents, whether they chose to remain in their current homes or move to new ones in the neighborhood.”
According to Abu al-Saud, mounting pressure from residents ultimately forced the company to exclude Al-Qarabis from the project and focus only on the wholesale market and tanneries, in order to avoid complications that could delay implementation.