Restoration projects have been occurring yearly, supported by the Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums, despite limited funding. The Citadel of Aleppo still has many structurally precarious buildings, and many others which lack adequate maintenance and services.

Considering that the citadel is a significant tourist attraction, and draws visitors from many areas, the site requires much more care and interest. Levels of technical and financial assistance that do justice to the Citadel's archaeological importance and touristic function are also required.

At the end of 1999, an agreement of understanding was signed between the Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums and the Aga Khan Trust for Culture—Historic Cities Support Program on restoration support for three castles in Syria: the Citadel of Aleppo, the Citadel of Masyaf, and the Castle of Salah ad-Din.

The most important of these three castles is likely the Citadel of Aleppo, as it has the longest known history and enjoys a prominent site in the middle of the old city of Aleppo, registered by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

The work of the Trust has focused on two main approaches to development in the Citadel:

The first approach was concerned with the buildings and palace present inside the citadel, and the careful development of a visitor centre and specialized museums. Buildings renovated inside the citadel include: the Ayyubid Palace, the Arsenal, the Royal Hammam, the Tawashi Palace, Tower 42, the courtyard in front of the entrance to the palace, the walkways required around the arsenal, the Barracks of Ibrahim Pasha, and, most recently, the Ayyubid Cistern.

The second approach has concentrated on the care, support, and restoration of the internal and external areas of walls and wall towers of the citadel, especially on the northern, western, and southern sites of the citadel. Other construction worked to improve the existing defense structures inside the citadel, the western surface area of the citadel stretching from the wall of the Big Mosque to the walls of the Throne Hall, the flanking tower, and the northern advance tower, the slope of the citadel and the gullies on the slope, the stone cladding in some areas of the slope, the entrance tower and the satura (the Ayyubid Well) structures, and, finally, the development of public restrooms.

• Introduction and description
• The Citadel Now
• Citadel and Preimeter
• History of the Citadel