Damascus | Al Majalla

Welcome to Bab Al Hara, an ancient Damascus neighbourhood unscathed by time and war

Al Majalla explores how two iconic historical neighbourhoods, grouped together as one entity known as Bab Al Hara, have kept their historical charm despite the passing of time and the horrors of war

Hasnaa Aadra 18 September 2023

Sami Moubayed Archive

Abdul Rahman al-Yusuf: The Syrian pasha who was killed three times

The president of the Shura Council during Ottoman rule was assassinated and purposely left out of Syrian history. The burning down of his family mansion this week was the final nail in his coffin.

Sami Moubayed 20 July 2023

Supplied

The vagabonds of Damascus past

In light of the spike in mental illness cases in Syria, Al Majalla sheds light on several famous vagabonds in Damascus from the 1950s to the 1990s

Sami Moubayed 06 July 2023

As the prestigious university turns 100 this year, Al Majalla looks back at its evolution and most significant influences.

Eduardo Ramon

The fascinating history of Damascus University

As the prestigious university turns 100 today, Al Majalla looks back at its evolution and most significant influences

Sami Moubayed 13 June 2023

Eiko Ojala

Plagued by war, queues and sorrow, Syrians await their inevitable demise

Syrian novelist Khaled Khalifa shares his firsthand account from the heart of the country's capital, describing the endless sorrow of the Syrian people

Khaled Khalifa 26 April 2023

A worker walks past Syrian national flags at a solar farm in Hama, Syria November 28, 2022. REUTERS/Firas Makdesi

Starved of Electricity, Some Syrians Turn To Solar Power

Facing crippling electricity cuts, Syrian dentist Ibrahim al-Akzam has turned to solar power to keep his Damascus clinic going, a reflection of the deep energy crisis in his country after 11 years of…

15 December 2022

Ahlam Mohsin Warda, a single mother bringing up three children, helps her son with his studies at their home in Damascus, Syria November 30, 2022. REUTERS/Yamam al Shaar

Syrians Brace for Long, Cold Winter as Fuel Crisis Bites

Mohammed Abu Ramadan can't afford to keep his children warm this winter so he and his sister's family in Damascus take it in turn to look after them - heating their homes only for the weeks that the…

08 December 2022

A number of Syrians gather in front of a Frankfurt Court where the trial of Syrian doctor Alaa M. over torture charges is being held. (Supplied)

Syrian Doctor’s Germany Trial, A Message to Intl Community

*Warning: This article contains graphic descriptions of violence and torture. German authorities are prosecuting a Syrian doctor accused of committing crimes against humanity during his…

Jiwan Soz 04 February 2022

A Syrian policeman patrols the ancient oasis city of Palmyra in March. Many Syrian antiquities have been looted and smuggled out of the country during the past three years of civil war/ Joseph Eid/AFP/Getty Images

Antiquities Smuggling: New Source of Funding for Syrian Militias

Qamishli- Iran’s military influence in Syria has moved through different forms and levels since the beginning of Tehran’s intervention in the Syrian crisis years ago to support Syrian President…

Jiwan Soz 14 January 2022

A handout photo made available by the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) shows Syrian President Bashar Assad (C-R) receiving a Russian delegation headed by Alexander Lavrentiev (C-L), the special envoy of President Vladimir Putin, in Damascus, Syria, 17 November 2021. EPA/SANA HANDOUT

Does It Make Sense To Turn A New Page With A Murderer?

A year ago the U.S. Democratic President Joe Biden was elected to succeed the Republican President Donald Trump, but until this moment his policy on Syria, if any, has not been announced. We have…

Alia Mansour 19 November 2021

Popular
Editor's Pick

A view shows a portrait of Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin at a makeshift memorial in Moscow, Russia August 24, 2023.

Reuters

Politics

How the man who challenged Putin met his predictable end

24 August 2023

In the Kremlin's likely view, the cost of Prigozhin's demise is negligible when compared to the goal of sending a clear message to those who think they can come at the Tsar and live to tell the tale

Michael Horowitz

President of China Xi Jinping attends the plenary session as Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his remarks virtually during the 2023 BRICS Summit at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa on August 23.

Reuters

Business & Economy

BRICS influence grows as it invites six countries to join

24 August 2023

The invitation to Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Ethiopia, Argentina and Iran symbolises the formation of a new world order amongst developing countries

Vumani Mkhize

A Ukrainian serviceman of the 3rd Assault Brigade fires a 122mm mortar towards Russian positions at the front line, near Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Sunday, July 2, 2023.

Politics

Who is winning the war in Ukraine?

24 August 2023

Two months since Ukraine launched its offensive, the pendulum of victory continues to swing back and forth. It is not a war of attrition but an evolving Ukrainian counter-offensive.

Michael Horowitz

Al Majalla caught up with the award-winning Mexican author to get a glimpse into his latest novel, which revolves around a husband and wife who embody a host of characters from famous Russian novels.

Albane Simon

Culture & Social Affairs

Mexican novelist David Toscana: We must write for future generations

19 August 2023

Al Majalla caught up with the award-winning author who attributes the decline in literary standards to publishers and readers rather than the authors themselves

Osama Esber

Men, probably Arab American food vendors, in an area of Manhattan's lower west side known as the "heart of New York's Arab world."

Library of Congress

Culture & Social Affairs

Welcome to 'Little Syria': A missing historical piece of New York’s ethnic mosaic

22 August 2023

At the turn of the 20th century, New York's Syrian Quarter was a vibrant residential, cultural, and commercial hub for immigrants from Ottoman Syria. In 1945, most of it was rendered obsolete.

Taissier Khalaf

Sections

Regions

More

LATEST ISSUE

Welcome to Bab Al Hara, an ancient Damascus neighbourhood unscathed by time and war

Abdul Rahman al-Yusuf: The Syrian pasha who was killed three times

The vagabonds of Damascus past

The fascinating history of Damascus University

Plagued by war, queues and sorrow, Syrians await their inevitable demise

Starved of Electricity, Some Syrians Turn To Solar Power

Syrians Brace for Long, Cold Winter as Fuel Crisis Bites

Syrian Doctor’s Germany Trial, A Message to Intl Community

Antiquities Smuggling: New Source of Funding for Syrian Militias

Does It Make Sense To Turn A New Page With A Murderer?

How the man who challenged Putin met his predictable end

BRICS influence grows as it invites six countries to join

Who is winning the war in Ukraine?

Mexican novelist David Toscana: We must write for future generations

Welcome to 'Little Syria': A missing historical piece of New York’s ethnic mosaic

OPINIONS

Iraqi Kurdistan treads carefully as neighbouring countries ramp up attacks on 'terrorists'

Biden faces impeachment trial

'The Bear' offers a recipe for loss but leaves healing off the ingredient list

Nagarno-Karabakh's perpetual conflict shows Soviet Union still crumbling

Sign up for the Weekly Newsletter