Mardin’s economy is based on agriculture, stockbreeding, and tourism. The main agricultural products are wheat, red lentil, barley, melon, watermelon, grape, tomatoes, eggplant, chickpea, cottonseed and cotton. After the completion of Güneydoğu Anadolu Projesi (GAP)’s irrigation plant which is in the Aşağı Fırat basin, there is an increase in vegetal production. The nomad tribes, who spend most of their time in plateaus in the summer, have substantial contributions in increase of stockbreeding. The primary breeding animals are cattle, sheep, goats and Ankara goats. Cattle stockbreeding is common in Mardin-Midyat threshold.

The older handicrafts which came from the ancient times and continue for along time include pottery; iron and copper works; tinnery; jewelry; silver works (telkari); needlework; Midyat style embroidery; mattress making; dyeing (sibbeğ); leather works (dabbağ), soap making; weaving; Şal ü Şapik (a special type of cloth making); kilim and carpet (wool and silk) weaving; saddlery; wood works; pearl working; halburculuk (wood pieces mostly from hornbeam) and stone working. Silver and gold embroidery which is called “telkari” are one the most important handicraft arts in Mardin. However, coppery and tinnery are living handicrafts.
 

Since Mardin has been selected as one of the prior counties for development, some plants were established. The main plants are macaroni, cotton gin, yarn, carpet, feed, wine, cement, asbestos cement, pipe, lime, stone chips factories. Furthermore, there are Mardin kombines of ET ve Balık Kurumu ( Meat and Fish Association) and a phosphate plant of Etibank in Mazı Dağı..

There are so many fables about the establishment of Mardin. According to one of them; Mardin’ name derives from the warlike people of Mardes who were settled here by the Persian King Ardeşir (226-241). According to another fable; one of the Persian Kings came to here in order to cure his sick son whose name is “Mardin” and then the Persian King gave the name of his son to the city after recovery of sickness.

Arab historian Vakidi states that the name Mardin derives from the religious sect of Mate. A well known priest living in the Castle of Mardin becomes a close friend of the military commander of the castle. But he is killed by another commander sent by Heraklius. Then the castle is given the name “Mate Din” which means “religion has died.” According to another story by Vakidi, the area was given the name Mardin upon the recovery of the sick son (Mardin) of one Persian king in this area. Since the manuscripts of Assyriacs have statements close to testifying this story, it can be regarded as the genuine origin of the name of the city. In many sources the city is actually referred to as “Merdin”. Actually many of its native residents use this name. The meaning of “Merdin” is “fortresses”, possibly deriving from the existence of many fortresses in the region. These fortresses are situated in a direction to watch each other for intention of defense.
There are several historical constructions in Mardin. The fortresses; Kalesi, Kız Kalesi ( Kal’at ül al Mara-Lorna-Jurekm), Erdemeşt Kalesi, Anır Kalesi, Dara Kalesi (Daras Anastasiupolis), Rabbat Kalesi, Savur Kalesi (Sauras), Haytam Kalesi (Turabdin-Dimitriyus), El Nıhman Kalesi. The churches; Mor İliyo Kilisesi, Mat Behnam (Kırklar) Kilisesi, Kırmızı (Surp Kevork) Kilisesi, Protestan Kilisesi (569), Meryem Ana Kilisesi ve Patrikhane (1860), Mar Hırmıs Kilisesi (MS.430), Mar Yusuf Kilisesi (1864-1894), Mor Şmuni Kilisesi (793), Mor Yakup (Arur) Manastırı (MS.I. ve II.yüzyıl), Mor İvennis Kilisesi (793), Mor Circis Kilisesi (793), Mor İliye Kilisesi, Mor Yuhannın Kilisesi (370), Mor Babi Kilisesi, Mor Aho Kilisesi, Mor Şemun Kilisesi, Mor Mihayel Kilisesi. The monasteries; Burç Manastırı (185), Hammara Manastırı (MS.326), Mor Barbara Manastırı (XVII.yüzyıl), Mor Efram Manastırı (1884), Meryem Ana Manastırı, Mor Dimet Manastırı, Mor Cırcıs Manastırı, Deyrulumur Manastırı (MS.397), Deyr’ül Zafaran Manastırı, Seyde (Meryem Ana) Manastırı (MS.326), Mar Yakup Manastırı, Ulu Cami (Cami-i Kebir). The Moslem theological schools; Hatuniye Medresesi, Zinciriye Medresesi (1385), Emüniddin ve Necmeddin Külliyesi (XII. century), Şeyh Sultan Medresesi, Marufiye Medresesi, Şehidiye Medresesi, Melik Mansur Medresesi, Altunboğa Medresesi, Kasımıye Medresesi, Şah Sultan Hatun Medresesi, Savurkapı Medresesi. The mosques; Melik Mahmut Camisi (Babü’s-Sur Camisi) (XIV.century), Süleyman Paşa Camisi (Molla Hari Camisi) (XIV. century), Şeyh Çabuk Camisi (XV. century), Hamid Camisi (XV.century), Şeyh Ali Camisi (Şeyh Mahmud Türki Camisi), Pamuk Camisi,Kıseyri Camisi, Reyhaniye Camisi, Azap Camisi (Arap Camisi), Şeyh Muhammed ez-Zerrar Camisi (Zairi Camisi) (XVII. century), Halife Camisi (Hacı Ömer Camisi), Kızıltepe Ulu Camisi. Furthermore, it has historical buildings of houses and bazaars; Kervansaray, Kayseriyye Çarşısı, Revaklı Çarşı, Firdevs Köşkü.
There are resorts such as Yer Altı Gölü, Bakırkırı Mesiresi in Buhur Köyü, in the west of Derik, and Çağçağ Çağlayanı, Fahriye Bahçeleri, Ravziye Bahçeleri, Zinnar Bahçeleri in Nusaybin.