First Phase of Lighting Project Completed at Aleppo Citadel
The Aleppo Governorate has announced the completion of the first phase of an urban lighting project designed to illuminate the perimeter of the historic Aleppo Citadel. This initiative is part of a broader effort to improve the visual aesthetics of the area and restore vitality to the historic district during night hours.
This project is being implemented under the “Beginning of Loyalty.. Beginning of Giving” campaign, launched by the governorate in collaboration with local merchants in Aleppo. The work initially focused on the immediate surroundings of the Citadel, as well as a number of adjacent streets and neighborhoods. In addition to the installation of lighting systems, the campaign includes comprehensive site improvements such as sanitation maintenance, infrastructure rehabilitation, and road paving. These efforts aim to foster an attractive environment that supports the local economy and restores social momentum to the Old City.
Yasser Moulouli, the official in charge of the first block for the Aleppo Governorate, stated that this project marks the beginning of a comprehensive plan to rehabilitate the Old City. Moulouli noted that the next phase of the initiative will involve extending lighting and infrastructure improvements to the remaining sectors of the city. He emphasized that the focus remains on encouraging residents and business owners to return to their homes and workplaces, thereby restoring daily life and economic activity to these historic neighborhoods.
Alaa Al-Muhandis, head of the Public Lighting Department at the Aleppo City Council, confirmed that the scope of the first phase covered the entire area surrounding the Citadel, as well as the four neighborhoods circling the Sabaa Bahrat roundabout, the Talat Khan al-Wazir area, and the street adjacent to the Umayyad Mosque. Al-Muhandis stated that technical teams are working continuously to cover the second and third rings of the project, with the ultimate goal of lighting the entirety of the Old City to fully restore nocturnal and social activity to this vital region.
The Aleppo Citadel, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, serves as the heart of the Old City. In recent months, its surroundings have undergone a series of maintenance and restoration works targeting roads and public services as part of a wider strategy to rehabilitate the city’s historical landmarks and ensure their long-term preservation.
