Core rehabilitation phases at Deir ez-Zor Civil Airport were reported complete in July 2026, with a return to service scheduled for early August 2026. The sections below record the state of the works as reported in April 2026 by the General Authority for Civil Aviation and Air Transport. The percentages cited there apply to individual components rather than to the project as a whole. The dated update at the end of this entry carries the current status.

Background: A Decade Out of Service

Deir ez-Zor Civil Airport had been out of civilian service for more than a decade, and the facility was repurposed for military use during the war. The first trial flight returned to the airport on 2 February 2025, when a civilian aircraft arrived from Damascus carrying airport staff and logistical equipment to assess the site's readiness. That flight confirmed the runway required maintenance and that navigation and communications equipment was absent, which framed the scope of the rehabilitation programme that followed.

Completion Rates Across Key Facilities, April 2026

The Authority's Government Communications Director, Alaa Salal, confirmed that a substantial portion of runway rehabilitation and core facility works had been completed, alongside preliminary technical works on navigation systems. The passenger terminal and administrative offices stood at approximately 90 percent completion, with remaining tasks limited to final finishing works including painting and floor tiling, while air conditioning units were scheduled for installation.

Salal further noted that perimeter wall works and runway maintenance had been fully completed, while maintenance of one of the entrances leading to the aircraft parking apron remained ongoing. Stone cladding works on the administrative buildings and passenger terminal had reached approximately 95 percent, with final finishing continuing across most sections.

Technical Systems and Infrastructure

Navigation lighting systems were technically ready, pending only the arrival of the lighting equipment for installation and commissioning. Works on the VIP reception hall were also progressing, while landscaping had reached approximately 70 percent completion and entrance gate works stood at the same level.

Phased Progress and Oversight

The Authority's work in that phase focused on three primary tracks:

• Completing technical installations across all airport facilities
• Conducting operational readiness tests in accordance with applicable standards
• Enhancing the efficiency of support services in preparation for full operational status

The Deputy Head of the Authority, Amjad Nakhal, conducted a field visit to the airport to review the progress of infrastructure and operational facility rehabilitation, as part of a comprehensive plan to raise readiness levels ahead of the official reopening. On 2 June 2026, the Head of the General Authority for Civil Aviation, Omar Al-Hassari, held an expanded meeting to discuss the requirements of the final phase and the mechanisms for completing the works in line with the approved timelines, in preparation for returning the airport to service.

Strategic Importance of the Project

Deir ez-Zor Civil Airport is a strategic asset for eastern Syria, and its return to service is expected to alleviate the governorate's isolation, facilitate passenger movement, and support economic activity across the region. The project forms part of a broader national vision aimed at restoring vital facilities in Syrian governorates and expanding domestic air connectivity.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did the April 2026 completion figures cover?

They applied to individual components rather than to the project as a whole: approximately 90 percent for the passenger terminal and administrative offices, approximately 95 percent for stone cladding, and approximately 70 percent for landscaping and entrance gate works. At the end of April 2026 the Authority's chairman put overall completion at 80 to 85 percent.

Which authority is overseeing the rehabilitation?

The General Authority for Civil Aviation and Air Transport is overseeing the project. Its Head is Omar Al-Hassari, its Deputy Head is Amjad Nakhal, and its Government Communications Director is Alaa Salal.

How long had the airport been out of service?

The airport had been out of civilian service for more than a decade and was repurposed for military use during the war. The first trial flight returned on 2 February 2025.

Which works were completed first?

Perimeter wall works and runway maintenance were completed in full. Later works covered final finishes, the installation of air conditioning units, and the installation and commissioning of navigation lighting equipment.

When is the airport expected to return to service?

Airport director Firas al-Azzawi announced in July 2026 that the basic and necessary rehabilitation phases had been completed and that the airport was due to return to service in early August 2026.

Why is the airport strategically important?

The airport is a strategic asset for eastern Syria. Its return to service is expected to reduce the governorate's isolation, facilitate passenger movement, and support economic activity, as part of a broader national plan to restore vital facilities and expand domestic air connectivity.

1. Infrastructure Status and Completion Rates (as of mid-2026)

Technical and engineering teams have made significant progress on the ground, bringing the airport closer to operational readiness according to the following milestones:

• Runway and Perimeter Wall: The maintenance and rehabilitation works for the main runway have been fully completed. Additionally, the construction of the airport's outer perimeter wall has been finished to meet international security and safety requirements.
• Passenger Terminal and Administrative Buildings: The completion rate has reached approximately 90%. Current works are focused on final cladding and finishing (such as stone cladding, which is 95% complete), as well as the installation of central air conditioning systems.
• Navigational Systems and Lighting: The preliminary technical works for advanced navigational systems (including plans to install modern radars) have been completed, and the aviation lighting systems are now ready for operation.
• Public Facilities: The completion rate for the main gates, entrances, and general landscaping has reached about 70%.

2. Recent Project Timeline

• January 2026: Security and technical inspection tours were conducted (with the participation of the Ministry of Interior and Airport Security Administration) to evaluate routing and establish a comprehensive safety plan prior to resuming air navigation.
• February 4, 2026: The comprehensive rehabilitation project was officially and intensively launched.
• April – June 2026: It was announced that the project had entered its final stages. "Operational readiness" tests for systems and equipment commenced as a preparatory step for the official opening.

3. Strategic Importance of the Airport's Return

The project goes beyond mere passenger transport; it carries significant economic and social dimensions:

• Alleviating Travel Hardships: It will end the burden of long and exhausting overland travel for the residents of the eastern region, directly reconnecting Deir ez-Zor with the capital and other governorates by air.
• Supporting Business and Freight: According to commercial shipping agents, the airport will create a paradigm shift in economic activity. Instead of shipping goods overland to Damascus first (which increases both cost and time), the airport will provide direct, rapid air freight solutions, revitalizing commercial and service activities across the governorate.

The project is advancing rapidly as part of a broader government plan to rehabilitate and reactivate vital airports and infrastructure in Syria. Current efforts are focused on ensuring that all facilities strictly comply with civil aviation safety standards before the official announcement of the first flights.

UPDATE 15.07.2026

Airport director Firas al-Azzawi announced that the basic and necessary rehabilitation phases had been completed, and that the airport was due to return to service in early August 2026 (SANA, 15 July 2026).

The completion percentages published earlier, in April 2026, applied to specific components rather than to the project as a whole: about 90 percent for the passenger terminal and the administrative offices, about 95 percent for the stone cladding, and about 70 percent for the landscaping and the main entrance gate. At the end of April 2026 the chairman of the General Authority for Civil Aviation and Air Transport, Omar al-Hosari, put overall completion at 80 to 85 percent.

Scheduled commercial service on the Kuwait City route was announced for August 2026. Dates and schedules are reported as published by the cited sources and remain subject to official confirmation.