The Syrian Real Estate Dictionary: Tabu, Furugh, Ekssa and Every Term You'll Hear

Every real estate market has its own language, and Syria's is older and richer than most. If you grew up abroad — or you're simply buying for the first time — a conversation with a Syrian broker can feel like a vocabulary test: tabu akhdar, furugh, hasr irth, musha', aal-adem, super deluxe. This dictionary explains the terms you will actually hear, and why each one matters to your money.

Deeds and the Land Registry

الطابو (Tabu)

The land registry itself — and, informally, the title deed. When Syrians ask "شو وضع الطابو؟" ("what's the tabu situation?"), they are asking how the property's ownership is recorded. It is the first question to ask, always.

الطابو الأخضر (Green Tabu)

Full, definitive registered ownership in the land registry — the strongest form of title in Syria and the benchmark against which everything else is discounted. A property with clean green tabu commands a premium for a reason.

بيان قيد عقاري (Registry Extract)

An official snapshot of the property's registry record: the owners and their shares, plus any mortgages, liens or lawsuit annotations. A recent extract is the single most useful document in any deal — our ownership verification checklist walks through reading one.

الأسهم (Shares)

The registry divides full ownership of a property into 2400 shares (sahm). You will hear "he owns 600 shares" — a quarter. Crucial with inherited property, where many relatives may each hold a slice.

المشاع (Musha')

Undivided co-ownership: several owners hold shares in the whole property, with no one owning a specific floor or corner. Buying a musha' share without the other co-owners on board is a classic trap — you own a percentage, not an apartment.

الفروغ (Furugh)

Sale of usage/occupancy rights recorded outside a full registry transfer — long common in commercial property and in some housing. Furugh deals are typically cheaper than green-tabu equivalents but offer weaker legal protection; they demand a lawyer, not just a handshake.

حكم محكمة (Court-Ruling Title)

Ownership established through a court judgment rather than an ordinary registry transfer. Legitimate in many cases — but always have a lawyer confirm the ruling is final and correctly recorded.

إشارة الدعوى / إشارة الرهن (Lawsuit / Mortgage Annotation)

Flags placed on the registry record. A lawsuit annotation means someone is disputing rights over the property; a mortgage annotation means it secures a debt. Either one on the بيان قيد عقاري should stop a deal until resolved.

Inheritance and Representation

حصر الإرث (Inheritance Inventory)

The formal document establishing who a deceased owner's heirs are and their legal shares. No sale of inherited property is safe before it exists — and every heir must sign or be represented.

الوكالة (Wakala — Power of Attorney)

The notarized authorization that lets someone act on an owner's behalf — the backbone of diaspora transactions. Issued at a notary (كاتب العدل) in Syria, or via Syrian embassies abroad. Check its scope and validity: a general wakala and a sale-specific wakala are different instruments.

Land, Zoning and Building

التنظيم / المخطط التنظيمي (Zoning Plan)

The municipal plan that decides what land is residential, commercial or agricultural, and what may be built where. The same field is a completely different asset depending on its zoning — verify it in writing before negotiating land.

الطابو الزراعي (Agricultural Deed)

Land registered as agricultural. You generally cannot legally build housing on it, no matter what the seller implies. Confusing agricultural and residential-zoned land is one of the most expensive mistakes in the market.

الإفراز (Subdivision)

The legal splitting of land or a building into independently owned units (مقاسم). An apartment that is not yet subdivided (غير مفروز) cannot get its own deed — you would be buying shares, not a unit.

رخصة البناء (Building Permit)

The municipal license to construct. In new projects, ask which phases are licensed; unlicensed floors risk demolition orders and registration problems. Related: مخالفة (violation) — construction outside or without a permit.

Condition and Finishing

على العظم (Aal-Adem — "On the Bones")

An apartment delivered as a bare shell: structure and block walls, no finishing. Extremely common in new Syrian construction — the buyer completes it to taste.

الإكساء (Ekssa — Finishing)

Everything that turns a shell into a home: plaster, floors, kitchens, bathrooms, doors, electrical and plumbing fittings. Listings grade it — إكساء عادي (standard), ديلوكس (deluxe), سوبر ديلوكس (super deluxe) — but the labels are marketing, not regulated standards: inspect materials, not adjectives.

Money and Deal-Making

العربون (Arbun — Deposit)

The earnest-money deposit that reserves a deal. Put its terms in writing: the amount, what happens if either side withdraws, and the deadline for completion.

السمسار / المكتب العقاري (Broker / Agency)

Commission rates and who pays them vary by city and deal — there is no single fixed rule, so agree on the number, in writing, before viewings get serious. Beware anyone who resists paperwork; our guide to avoiding property scams lists the red flags.

الخلو (Khilu — Key Money)

A lump sum paid for the right to occupy — a concept from old rent-law tenancies, still met in commercial property and legacy leases. If a "cheap" property comes with a sitting tenant, understand the khilu question before anything else.

الأجار القديم / الجديد (Old vs New Rent Law)

Legacy leases under the old rent regime give tenants strong, long-lasting rights; modern contracts are freely negotiated and time-limited. A building "sold with tenants" is a very different purchase depending on which regime applies.

الأمبيرات (Amperes)

Private generator subscriptions sold by the ampere, powering homes through grid outages. Not a legal term — but a monthly cost line every returning expat discovers quickly, and worth asking about when comparing buildings and neighborhoods.

Use the Vocabulary

Armed with the vocabulary, the rest of the process makes far more sense. Continue with our first-time homebuyer guide for Syria, check what taxes and fees buyers actually pay, and when you're ready, browse verified listings for sale and for rent on AqaarGate.