SARIYER DISTRICT
&
MUNICIPALITY
Location
Sarıyer, located in the north
east of the European side
along the Istanbul Strait. It
remains between the
Bosporus and Black Sea.
The District consisted of
• Urban (25
neighbourhoods)
• Rural (8 villages) areas.
Name of Sarıyer
The name of the district
has changed from Simas
to Skletrinas, and later to
Mezarburnu. The first
name of Sarıyer, which is
Simas, is known to mean
“Holy Mother”, however
in some other sources it is
stated as “Blessed/Jolly
River”.
Short History
In old ages, Sarıyer had many empty lands and hills, and was not
among the main settlement areas in the Antiquity and Byzantium
age. There was small settlement in the shores in the Byzantium
Empire times. The development of the small villages at the Bosporus
shores started in the 16th and 17th centuries when the migrants from
the Anatolia and Princes Islands moved there. The villagers mostly
lived on fishing. The Bosporus coast districts of Sarıyer, were in the
nature of summer resorts until 1960’s. After this period, due to the
rapid industrialization process, there had been dramatic increase of
migration from Anatolia.
Population
Population as per Years
According to the latest
32,515
census held in 2007, the
29,984
population of Sarıyer is
32,114
276,407. Approximately 10%
40,012
of the population (28,774)
48,990
lives in the villages.
52,445
However, the population of
67,902
the province has approached
400.000. The annual
population growth rate is
below Istanbul average.
85,262
117,659
147,503
171,872
229,600
242,543
276,774
Transportation
The residents of Sarıyer mainly use
sea and land routes for
transportation.
There are three main land routes in
the district connecting to the
centre of Istanbul. As in general to
Turkey, sea transportation has
been neglected by the central
authorities.
Natural Assets
• Proximity to the Centre of Istanbul
• 23 rivers
• Dams and aqueducts
• Belgrad Forest
• Bays (e.g. Kilyos, İstinye, Tarabya,
Yeniköy)
• Beaches
• Wide green fields
Historical & Cultural Assets
• Strong multicultural community. For centuries, Turks,
Armenians, Greeks, Jewish and Romans have lived together in
harmony
• Rich historical and cultural urban texture
• Diverse socio-economic groups
Education & Training
Sarıyer has the potential to become the
education and training centre of Istanbul
with
• 47 preschool
• 50 elementary
• 31 high schools and
• 8 Universities
Health
Sarıyer has a location which is
appropriate for health tourism with its
forest, sea and clean air compared to
other centres of Istanbul.
There are
• 4 hospitals
• 23 public health centres
• 99 pharmacies
• 7 polyclinics
Sports
Sarıyer has a big potential in sports
especially in football, horse-riding and
sea sports.
There are
• 1 professional, 22 amateur and 1
municipality sports club in the province
• Over 10 sport centers and facilities
Sarıyer Football Club, established in
1940, was in the Super league between
1982 and 1994 and in the 1996-1997
years. This season it plays in the 2nd
League.
Socio-Economic Life
Since Sarıyer province was regarded as a
summer resort for years, industry has never
had an important role in the province
economy. In the previous years, matchstick,
cable and crane plants were founded in the
province and a shipyard was founded in
İstinye. However, because of changes in the
economy, the plants were moved to other
places and the shipyard was also removed.
Therefore, the active labour force mostly
works out of the district.
The most important economic activity of
the district is service sector. Mostly, the
fish restaurants along the shores and
other leisure workplaces such as bars
attract interest. Sarıyer is branded as the
town of fishing in the country. Fishing
vessels registered in Sarıyer represents
41% of fishing sector in Istanbul.
• Headquarters of many big
corporations
• The only stock exchange of
Turkey -Istanbul Stock Exchange
• The Turkish Football Federation
• The embassies (21) of USA,
Austria, China and Iraq
• The most well-known & exclusive
shopping-mall (İstinye Park) of
Turkey in the district.
Tourism
Sarıyer has a great potential
in all kinds of tourism. In
addition to its natural,
historical and cultural values,
it is one of the most
important destination for sea
tourism.
Due to its long history, Sarıyer has
many important historical buildings
from the Byzantium and Ottoman
times. In the district there are many
historical buildings, religious
buildings, fountains, lodges, cisterns,
aqueducts, city walls, castles, tombs,
mansions and waterside mansions.
Hence, all these assets presents huge
potential for cultural, historical and
religious tourism.
One of the important features of Sarıyer
is the bars, fish restaurants, hotels and
other entertainment venues which are
located along the Bosporus. Sarıyer is an
attraction centre for leisure and
entertainment.
Even though Sarıyer has a rich
and valuable potential for
tourism, its tourism
infrastructure cannot meet
the demand. Today, there are
• 4 four hotels
• 3 pensions
• 12 beaches
• 174 restaurants
• 3 parking lots
• 4 cinemas
• a couple of theatres and
cultural centers.
Brand values of Sarıyer
Sarıyer Pastry
It is a crunchy and light pastry with
various fillings.
Emirgan Tea
Drinking tea has become an important
town ritual in Emirgan.
Sarıyer Pudding
Its main ingredients are milk, rice flour
and vanilla. Unique Ottoman tradition.
Fish Restaurants
Sarıyer district is famous with its fish
restaurants along the Bosporus.
Fishery
Sarıyer has been regarded as a fishing
town, and fish and fishery have become
the symbol of the district. Fishing is an
important and old source of income.
All kinds of fishery from hand-line
fishing to the latest technology offshore
fishery, are carried out in Sarıyer.
In the last decades fishery has been
neglected and it is hoped that it will
soon gain its historical importance again.
Sarıyer Municipality
With the administrative arrangements
made, Sarıyer district was founded in
1930. The first municipal elections were
held in 1984. Bahçeköy district which
was a municipality until the 1990s, was
abolished and added to Sarıyer as a
neighbourhood in 2008.
MAYOR
Mr. Şükrü Genç is the
sixth elected mayor of
Sarıyer. He is
professionally a civil
engineer.
He and other members of
Municipal Council was
elected at local elections
in March 2009.
Sarıyer Municipality
provides public
services for the district
with 7 Vice-Mayors, 22
Directorates and 1392
personnel under the
management of
Mayor Genç.
Our Mission:
To transform Sarıyer into an ecological living space in which human
welfare and life quality is high level for everyone while preserving
and cherishing its natural, historical and cultural values.
Our Vision:
To become an exemplary district and local authority through local
participatory democracy and development.
Our Priorities:
•
Participatory local democracy and governance (e.g. Neighborhood
Houses, City Council)
• Participatory local development
• Increasing transnational cooperation, partnerships and projects
Sarıyer Development Action Plan
Plan aims to induce simultaneous development in environment,
physical infrastructure, economic and social aspects in Sarıyer.
There are around 200 development actions in the plan under three
categories:
1. Technical infrastructure: environment, urban infrastructure,
cultural heritage and disaster management
2. Social Policy, Culture, Sports and Animal Welfare
3. Economic Development: Service sector, tourism and SMEs
The Plan is the first local participatory development plan in Turkey. Its
preparation and implementation involves citizens, Municipality,
City Council, NGOs, private sector and universities.
Sarıyer Municipality Building
First public sector eco-building is being built by the Municipality which is in total
72,000 m2
Areas For Potential Cooperation
• Economic cooperation: Turkey is an emerging market so as
Istanbul. Investment opportunities, company branches and
labor force. (e.g. Ataturk Automobile Industry Area)
• Research & Development: universities as innovation centers,
cooperation for both private and public projects
• Social Projects: vocational training, social cohesion and
integration, gender, elderly, disabled and youth issues
Sarıyer, due to its location and the most safe area, is open
for new investments and partnerships!
TOGETHER FOR A BETTER
FUTURE