Drake & Scull stalled in Syria

Political turmoil in Syria has prompted Drake & Scull, the UAE contractor, to stop work on a Dh85 million hotel project in Homs, the historic city 162k north of Damascus.

"At the moment we are in a stalemate," said chief executive Khaldoun Tabari. "We don't know what to do."

The company halted mechanical, electrical and plumbing work on the Rotana Gardenia Hotel, its first project in Syria, two weeks ago and relocated non-Syrian personnel, Mr Tabari said during the Arabian World Construction Summit in Abu Dhabi. Plans call for a 42-storey complex including 285 hotel rooms, 16 floors of furnished apartments and a three-storey shopping mall.

"DSI recognises Syria's potential which is why the company established an office in the country earlier this year, allowing us to begin operations immediately in order to maximise efficiency," Mr Tabari said at the time. "We believe that Syria is entering a new phase in its economic development and we hope to contribute significantly to this."

Now, the company is unsure about the status of the project. "We are just in wait and see," Mr Tabari said.