Laughter fills the Zawaya Art Gallery in downtown Damascus. A packed crowd is chuckling uproariously at Syria’s first stand-up comedy show since Assad's fall in December, which they hope is the beginning of an new age of freedom for their art form.
“It turned out Bashar Al Assad was the greatest comedian out of us all, he’s been laughing at us for over half a century,” says Sharif Al Homsi, founder of Styria Comedy Club, among one of the most popular attractions in the Damascus social calendar.
Al Homsi says Al Assad’s mukhabarat (secret police) had closely watched Syria’s comedians for years, often rigorously interceding to stop specific punchlines being delivered or censor certain topics being used for content in the shows, which have grown increasingly popular in recent times.
The watchful eye of the Syrian security apparatus is no longer, Al Homsi tells The National. “There was fear that was felt all around. It’s a double-edged sword to make content on things you couldn’t do before. You sometimes forget the basics. We now have the freedom to say what we want and should never take that for granted.”
Styria is the country’s first successful comedy club, open to anyone who has wanted to do stand-up in the country. The subject matter ranges from satire, similar to Egyptian comedian Bassem Youssef, to deeper, personal experiences of storytelling life in Syria, and now the reins are firmly off.
“I had a horrible experience with the Assad regime. Even the Ministry of Education opened a court case on me after one of our comedians mocked the regime's use of traffic signs," says Al Homsi.
“I was arrested by the regime and it was such a bad experience, but can you imagine the Syrian Ministry of Education, who couldn’t educate anyone, actually opened a court case against me, now that was so funny. But in the end, we had the last laugh.”
The comedian is leading a group of seasoned creatives into new political pastures. For many of them, stand-up is a novel field. “It’s the art of the streets, drawn from people’s problems and stories, it's real art and that type of communication is critical for the country now.”
Mary Obaid, a comedian and food blogger who goes by the name Meme Eats, believes comedy should now thrive in Syria.
“We can now perform with freedom. There was no freedom of expression in the time of Bashar Al Assad. Life is now much better and nicer. We can actually do what we want to do and say what we want without the fear of ending up in Sednaya Prison," says Obaid.
Rami Jbr of Homs, 43, is a veteran of the Syrian comedy scene. He started his session with several jokes about the number of security checkpoints he used to pass by to get into the city, after singing “Syria is Free” while coming on to the podium. Most of Styria’s comedians come from all over the country showcasing the diversity the group sports.
One of the centrepieces of the event was popular comedian Abu Amsha, otherwise known as Hussain Al-Rawi, 28, who comes from the city of Deir Ezzor on the Euphrates, and says the lack of censorship is something that could only dreamt of before the revolution.
“Stand-up is a free and safe space. There are boundaries with how far you can go, of course, but we have to raise the bar. It was different before. After the regime has gone, it’s a game-changer. There's freedom to talk. No one can stop it. We used to fear saying a phrase or a word, being arrested or disappearing behind the sun.”
Abu Amsha habitually makes fun of his weight problems. On stage, he pauses before saying, “and it’s pretty hard to disappear me behind the sun,” before delving into one of his new favourite jokes.
“One of my lines is about the money I paid to be exempt from military service,” says Abu Amsha, "the $3,000 which went into thin air because I'm overweight. They wouldn’t have been able to find a suitable use for me. I’ve lost my heart and soul with that $3,000. I should have eaten burgers with those funds instead.”
The Assad regime forced those who sought exemption from military service to pay hefty sums to escape the abhorred rough and dangerous army life, Abu Amsha says.
“What’s worse, I’d paid the exemption fee and it's not even updated on the regime system yet. So I was walking once in a district near Rukn al-Deen. At 1am one night, a Mukhabarat car came and took my ID card, I was detained, even though I’d paid the exemption fee three months earlier. I had to pay $12 on top of the $3,000 and that made me even more broke.”
Abu Amsha’s hometown was held by the opposition forces before the regime's fall, though the comedian now lives in Damascus. Nevertheless, the end of the regime still came as a shock.
“I went into the streets and people still couldn't believe that the regime was gone. All we needed was some electricity and if we got that, our happiness would lead to some crazy side effects," he says.
In the months leading up to Al Assad's fall, the regime had begun to crack down even harder on civil society, arresting a group of well-known Instagram influencers and pranksters, Abu Amsha says. The comedian believed he and his fellow stand-up comedians would be their next focal point.
“My bad experience was that we couldn’t talk. We were so frightened that we would say something that would end up at the security branches. We were oppressed. Before the regime fell, they were arresting all the bloggers, and we were next.”
The performers' final act at the opening of post-Assad Styria was to tell of what he saw with his own eyes when the Assad regime was collapsing, after living in the suburb town of Al Moadamiya in south-western Damascus which fell before the rest of the city.
“When the regime fell, I was unsure about what flag to put on my house. I needed counsel and guidance, so I knocked on the door of my devout Christian neighbour called George. George opened the door and said, 'it’s not George any more, please call me Abu Omar'," Abu Amsha jokes.
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
MORE ON THE US DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES
The story of Edge
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, established Edge in 2019.
It brought together 25 state-owned and independent companies specialising in weapons systems, cyber protection and electronic warfare.
Edge has an annual revenue of $5 billion and employs more than 12,000 people.
Some of the companies include Nimr, a maker of armoured vehicles, Caracal, which manufactures guns and ammunitions company, Lahab
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
HAJJAN
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The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
More from UAE Human Development Report:
LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs: 2018 Opel Mokka X
Price, as tested: Dh84,000
Engine: 1.4L, four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: Six-speed auto
Power: 142hp at 4,900rpm
Torque: 200Nm at 1,850rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L / 100km
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SPECS
%3Cp%3E%0D%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204.0-litre%20twin-turbo%20V8%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20750hp%20at%207%2C500rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20800Nm%20at%205%2C500rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%207%20Speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETop%20speed%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20332kph%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2012.2L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EYear%20end%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh1%2C430%2C000%20(coupe)%3B%20From%20Dh1%2C566%2C000%20(Spider)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Fifa Club World Cup quarter-final
Kashima Antlers 3 (Nagaki 49’, Serginho 69’, Abe 84’)
Guadalajara 2 (Zaldivar 03’, Pulido 90')
Company profile
Name: Dukkantek
Started: January 2021
Founders: Sanad Yaghi, Ali Al Sayegh and Shadi Joulani
Based: UAE
Number of employees: 140
Sector: B2B Vertical SaaS(software as a service)
Investment: $5.2 million
Funding stage: Seed round
Investors: Global Founders Capital, Colle Capital Partners, Wamda Capital, Plug and Play, Comma Capital, Nowais Capital, Annex Investments and AMK Investment Office
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
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