{
  "id": 7769837,
  "title": "Rotana in talks to re-enter Syria and confirms no job cuts despite war",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/rotana-in-talks-to-re-enter-syria-and-confirms-no-job-cuts-despite-war-7769837",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-16T10:49:34.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National UAE",
    "slug": "the-national-uae",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/economy/2026/09/16/rotana-in-talks-to-re-enter-syria-and-confirms-no-job-cuts-despite-war/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Rotana, a prominent hotel operator based in Abu Dhabi, is currently in discussions to resume operations in Syria. The country is actively seeking to reestablish itself within the global economy after enduring a 13-year civil war. Rotana's CEO, Philip Barnes, expressed his enthusiasm for returning to Syria, stating that \"We would love to be back in Syria. We want to be back.\"\n\nRotana left Syria in 2014 due to the country's volatile situation. However, Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara, who recently visited Dubai, has been advocating for Syria's return to the global economic stage. Western countries are gradually lifting sanctions against Syria, with Syria being removed from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism last month. Barnes noted that the removal of sanctions would bring about significant changes for companies like Rotana, particularly in terms of financial operations.\n\nDealing with sanctioned countries, such as Syria, can be challenging for businesses like Rotana. Barnes acknowledged that partners in the United States and other sanctioned nations must be aware of the regulations when operating in these regions. Despite the challenges, Rotana began exploring potential opportunities in Syria as soon as the country started reopening to the world.\n\nApart from Syria, Rotana is also considering expansion opportunities in Egypt, Pakistan, and Georgia. The company, which operates over 78 hotels and has 40 more under development across various regions, has managed to avoid any layoffs this year despite the ongoing Iran war. Barnes mentioned that the company focused on revenue generation and cost containment during the initial months of the crisis. By August, Rotana's Dubai properties achieved an 82% occupancy rate, demonstrating a robust recovery in business.\n\nAs of now, there are no immediate plans for an initial public offering (IPO) for Rotana. Barnes stated that the IPO is under consideration, but the decision will depend on shareholder approval. The company's co-founder and vice chairman, Selim El Zyr, had previously expressed his optimism about an IPO, but Barnes confirmed that there are no immediate plans for this at the moment. The company remains optimistic about its future, with 40 hotels in the pipeline to open over the next five to six years, further contributing to its growth strategy.",
  "summary": "Hotel operator Rotana is in talks to re-enter Syria as the country seeks to reintegrate with the wider global economy. “We would love to be back in Syria . We want to be back,” Rotana’s chief executive Philip Barnes said in an interview with The National at the Arabian Travel Market. “We are already in conversations with owners, developers in Syria, and [the person] who heads up our development…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The National Business",
        "title": "Rotana in talks to re-enter Syria and confirms no job cuts despite war",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/rotana-in-talks-to-re-enter-syria-and-confirms-no-job-cuts-despite-war",
        "published": "2026-09-16T10:49:34.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}