This paper explores land issues in national dialogue processes through the case studies of Myanmar and Syria. In both countries land is a major issue contributing to conflict but can also be an entry point for dialogue. Understanding the specific nature of these land conflicts is a vital step in their eventual resolution. Although land is a central and obvious conflict issue, land conflicts in Myanmar and Syria disguise other societal conflicts. They are just the visible part of a more serious conflict which is rooted much deeper in the society and its history. Land conflicts reflect the general inequality or unfair distribution of wealth, voice and power in a society and/or the discrimination against certain groups, such as women or ethnic minorities. The paper argues the importance of developing a systemic approach of synchronising different levels of land related initiatives. An appropriate level of detail regarding land and other resources should be included in the national dialogue process and eventual peace agreements. To support this, the possibilities of existing legal framework should be fully utilised, thought put into creating new legislation where necessary, and local reconciliation infrastructures should be developed.