Damascus Faces Urban Decay Amid Stagnation and Security Incidents

Damascus is presenting an image of an aging, exhausted city following more than a decade of war and economic stagnation, where urban development has largely halted. Concurrently, the city’s outskirts are experiencing security issues, highlighted by explosions near the holy sites.

After over a decade of conflict and crisis, Damascus exhibits profound signs of decay. According to the Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar, the city is characterized by half-century-old buildings, damaged sidewalks, and gray roads, creating a sense that time has stopped. The route from Beirut Airport to Damascus remains unchanged, with partially ruined towns resembling a museum of the war.

The average age of buildings in Damascus, which was 28 years in 2004, has now reached approximately 50 years due to two decades of development stagnation. While some older buildings in the al-Mezzeh district have seen minor façade renovations, major projects—such as commercial towers planned in the early 2000s—were halted by the war and have only recently resumed with economic and political disorder.

Syrian architect Hassan al-Khalidi asserts that the construction boom around Damascus is not true development but rather a consolidation of urban disorder. Unplanned construction in suburbs like Sahnaia, Jaramana, Qudsaya, and Jadidat Artouz has led to skyrocketing housing prices, a lack of services, and immense pressure on infrastructure. Experts warn that the city’s genuine reconstruction requires a rewrite of its entire urban and economic vision, focusing on sustainable development rather than simply building walls over ruins.

This comes amid a landscape of targeted attacks on Shia community and sacred places. In a tragic security incident, local Syrian and Iraqi media outlets reported hearing explosions near the Shrine of Sayyida Zeinab (peace be upon her) in the Damascus countryside.

The explosions were caused by sound bombs reportedly thrown by armed individuals near Al-Sadr Hospital, which is adjacent to the shrine. Media reports also indicated the presence of gangs affiliated with the Al-Joulani group gathering in the area.