Bab al-Hawa Border Crossing Rehabilitation and Expansion

Project Overview

The project rehabilitates and expands the Bab al-Hawa border crossing in Idlib Governorate, one of Syria's main crossings with Türkiye for travellers and goods. It aims to raise the crossing's capacity, speed up procedures for travellers and freight trucks, and reorganise traffic through the site.

The General Authority for Borders and Customs launched the project, and the Ministry of Public Works and Housing carries out its technical works in coordination with the authority, according to SANA (6 April 2026). The works on site are executed by the Syrian Establishment for Building and Construction, according to SANA (30 March 2026).

Timeline

Following a tour of the crossing on 10 January 2026, Public Works and Housing Minister Mustafa Abdel Razzaq and Qutaiba Badawi, head of the General Authority for Borders and Customs, held a coordination meeting, reported by SANA on 11 January 2026. They discussed expanding the crossing and upgrading its infrastructure, including the passenger halls, customs yards and roads, as well as the division of roles and a proposed work schedule.

On 30 March 2026, SANA reported that the minister, accompanied by engineer Hassan Rahmoun, director of the Syrian Establishment for Building and Construction, had inspected the rehabilitation and expansion works that the establishment had recently started. The authority announced the launch of the project on 1 April 2026, according to Syria TV, and SANA reported on 6 April 2026 that the authority had begun implementing the project works.

Scope of Works

According to SANA (6 April 2026), the plan covers all sections of the crossing: new freight roads, separate lanes for passenger cars, rehabilitation of the arrival and departure halls, and several new service facilities. Mohammad Haj Ayoub, head of the technical and engineering studies department at the Syrian Establishment for Building and Construction, listed road widening, the irrigation and drainage network, staff housing, rehabilitation of the gates and hangars, a new gate adjoining the current entry gate, a metal gate at the start of the crossing, and weighing stations. He put the expansion area at about 200,000 square metres, most of it roads, and the expected implementation period at six to nine months.

Syria TV reported on 1 April 2026 that the project also includes improvements to the service infrastructure, including waiting facilities and inspection points, and on 7 April 2026 that the expansion aims to raise the crossing's capacity to 10,000 travellers a day.

Objectives

According to what SANA and Syria TV reported from the authority and the Syrian Establishment for Building and Construction, the works aim to increase the crossing's operational efficiency, smooth the flow of traffic at entry and exit, reorganise the transit lanes and shorten processing times in line with current technical and engineering standards, and to strengthen the crossing's capacity to serve trade, transit and passenger traffic.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Bab al-Hawa border crossing located?

The crossing is in Idlib Governorate, on Syria's border with Türkiye.

Who is carrying out the project?

The General Authority for Borders and Customs launched the project. The Ministry of Public Works and Housing carries out the technical works in coordination with the authority, and the Syrian Establishment for Building and Construction executes the works on site.

What new facilities does the project include?

New freight roads, separate lanes for passenger cars, a new gate next to the current entry gate, weighing stations, staff housing and new service facilities, alongside the rehabilitation of the passenger halls, gates and hangars.

When is the project expected to be completed?

In April 2026, Mohammad Haj Ayoub of the Syrian Establishment for Building and Construction put the implementation period at six to nine months. In August 2026, Qutaiba Badawi, head of the General Authority for Borders and Customs, said the expanded crossing was expected to open within three months. In September 2026, Syria TV reported that the works were still continuing.

Update — 2026-04-06

The project has moved from planning to actual execution. According to SANA on 6 April 2026, rehabilitation and expansion works began at the Bab al-Hawa crossing with Türkiye. The agency quoted Mustafa Hallaq, head of public relations at the crossing, as saying the project covers the redevelopment and expansion of all sections of the crossing, the construction of new freight roads and separate lanes for passenger vehicles, the rehabilitation of traveller halls, and the creation of service facilities.

The expansion spans approximately 200,000 square metres, most of it roads and traffic organisation, and the works include upgraded drainage networks, new entry gates, weighing stations, staff housing and hangar rehabilitation. The expected implementation period was put at between six and nine months. Public Works and Housing Minister Mustafa Abdel Razzaq had inspected the site alongside engineer Hassan Rahmoun, director of the Syrian Establishment for Building and Construction, reviewing implementation progress, work plans and the technical and logistical challenges, according to SANA on 30 March 2026.

Sources

• https://sana.sy/en/syria/2308652/
• https://sana.sy/locals/2443968/
• https://sana.sy/locals/2437662/

Update 2026-09-08

Works on the crossing continued through the summer of 2026. Speaking on 13 August 2026 at the inauguration of new freight yards and a logistics centre at Türkiye's Cilvegözü crossing, opposite Bab al-Hawa, Qutaiba Badawi, head of the General Authority for Borders and Customs, said the authority was working in parallel to expand the Syrian crossing, upgrading its freight yards, buildings, facilities and truck and passenger lanes, ahead of opening it within three months, according to Al-Ikhbariya.

On 22 August 2026, Idlib Governor Mohammad Abdulrahman and Badawi toured the crossing and inspected the expansion, rehabilitation and asphalting works, according to the Idlib Governorate's official Telegram channel. On 8 September 2026, Syria TV reported that the expansion was continuing across the freight yards, truck lanes, passenger halls and service and customs facilities.

According to authority figures cited in the same report, 95,247 commercial trucks carrying more than 2.1 million tonnes of goods, and more than 602,000 travellers, passed through the crossing in both directions in the first eight months of 2026.

Sources

• Al-Ikhbariya, 13 August 2026
• Idlib Governorate (Telegram), 22 August 2026
• Syria TV, 8 September 2026