Mahmoud Al Shehab, 10, sees the historic ruins of Palmyra for the first time after his family's return to the city. Photo: Maree Al Shehab
Mahmoud Al Shehab, 10, sees the historic ruins of Palmyra for the first time after his family's return to the city. Photo: Maree Al Shehab
Mahmoud Al Shehab, 10, sees the historic ruins of Palmyra for the first time after his family's return to the city. Photo: Maree Al Shehab
Mahmoud Al Shehab, 10, sees the historic ruins of Palmyra for the first time after his family's return to the city. Photo: Maree Al Shehab

Exiled Syrians reclaim Palmyra but face a struggle to rebuild


Lemma Shehadi
  • English
  • Arabic

In Syria's western desert, Maree Al Shehab had given up hope of seeing his home city of Palmyra again, still less showing his children born over the last decade where they could trace their roots.

After fleeing an ISIS takeover of the city in 2015 with nothing but a small bag of clothes, he had lived in a refugee camp on the border with Jordan. Months passed without aid, there was little electricity and no running water in temporary shelters made of clay.

All the evil people of the earth entered it -- they displaced its good people who lived simply.”
Maree Al Shehab on Palmyra

But when ISIS was defeated in Palmyra, militias loyal to the now-deposed dictator Bashar Al Assad occupied the city and laid siege to the camp, preventing Mr Al Shehab and tens of thousands of others from returning.

His children, Mahmoud and Mal Al Sham, were born in the camp, which is called Rukban, but Mr Al Shehab frequently reminded them of their home, a town on the edge of the ruins of the ancient city of Palmyra. “I always told them that we have a homeland, but we were forced to leave it,” he said.

ISIS destroyed a Roman temple in Palmyra in 2015. Reuters
ISIS destroyed a Roman temple in Palmyra in 2015. Reuters

He showed them images of the city’s remains, including a colonnaded street, amphitheatres and temples. Known for its former ruler Queen Zenobia, who challenged the Eastern Roman Empire, Palmyra was a crucial trading city linking the east and west.

Mr Al Shehab also told his children of its close-knit community. “I told them about our beautiful neighbourhood and the neighbours we lived with as if we were one family,” he said.

Freedom has a price, and this price was very high due to 55 years of oppression
Maree Al Shehab

After the collapse of the Assad regime, he returned to the city on one of the first buses to leave Rukban. “We entered the city with happy hearts and eyes filled with tears of joy,” he said.

The first thing he did was to take his children to the ancient ruins. Mahmoud wanted to see the site's Roman arch. The ornate Triumphal Arch was one of three sites destroyed by ISIS in 2017.

Al Shehab told his children that the arch had been destroyed. He blamed the Assad regime for ISIS’s takeover in 2015 and the damage caused to the city by the militias that supported him. “All the evil people of the earth entered it,” he said. They displaced its good people who lived simply.”

He then saw the fear in his son’s eyes as they walked through the town’s devastated street market. Upon returning home, they found windows and doors missing, crumbling walls and nothing left inside.

“This is ruined, there is nobody in the neighbourhood. Where will we live?” Mahmoud asked. Mr Al Shebab admitted that upon seeing his home, he had second thoughts about having returned so soon. “I said to myself, 'why did you bring them here before repairing the house?'” he said.

Streets outside the family home in Palmyra in Syria. Photo: Maree Al Shehab
Streets outside the family home in Palmyra in Syria. Photo: Maree Al Shehab

Demining efforts

Former residents who have returned to the city from Idlib and Damascus formed the Civil Committee of Tadmor. They said they hoped the city's administration would be formed of locals who had not been involved with the Assad regime. “We want only revolutionary cadres,” an official told The National.

Rebuilding efforts are also affected by landmines left behind by the Iran-backed militias and Russian groups that occupied the city. “It is affecting the livelihoods of Bedouin herders who cannot take their flocks out safely,” he said. The Syrian Free Army has been patrolling the city to check on residents during demining efforts.

The Syrian Free Army conducts daily security patrols inside and around Palmyra to maintain security in the city. Photo: Syrian Free Army
The Syrian Free Army conducts daily security patrols inside and around Palmyra to maintain security in the city. Photo: Syrian Free Army

Not a priority

There are concerns that the new HTS-led administration could overlook the crises in rural areas as it focuses on rebuilding the largest cities. “They're not paying attention to the countryside,” said Khaled Al Homsi, a former resident of Palmyra now living in Turkey.

Several plans exist to restore ancient sites. ISIS used the ruins of the arch as a backdrop for their execution videos, while Russian forces that took the city back hosted a classical music concert in an amphitheatre. Several plans exist for the recovery of the ancient site, which became a potent symbol during the war. ISIS used it as the backdrop for their execution videos, and Russian forces that took the city back hosted a classical music concert in its amphitheatre. A 3D replica of the Arch was erected in London's Trafalgar square in 2016.

The Assad regime dug up the city to prepare artillery positions, build dykes and roads. Important tombs were looted, or damaged by air strikes, according to the Association for the Protection of Syrian Archaeology. However, there is a more urgent need for running water, electricity and safe homes, as people begin to return.

A replica of the Triumphal Arch at Palmyra is unveiled at Trafalgar Square, London, as a show of defiance against ISIS in 2016. Getty Images
A replica of the Triumphal Arch at Palmyra is unveiled at Trafalgar Square, London, as a show of defiance against ISIS in 2016. Getty Images

Rebuilding homes

When Ibrahim Mohamed returned to his home from Rukban, he no longer recognised it. The ceilings had collapsed from shelling, the windows and doors were missing, and the electrical wiring had been removed from the walls. “There was nothing. No windows, no doors. No running water,” he told The National.

Facing unemployment, Mr Mohamed is struggling to gather the funds to feed his family and rebuild. “I need to put 1.5 million Syrian pounds ($115) for each door. I don’t have that. I need to feed my children, I can’t afford bread,” he said.

Ibrahim Mohammed Hussein stands above the ruins of his home in Palmyra. Photo: Civil Committee of Tadmur
Ibrahim Mohammed Hussein stands above the ruins of his home in Palmyra. Photo: Civil Committee of Tadmur

His five children were born in Rukban camp. His eldest is 10 years old, and the youngest is four months old. “They were hoping to have a home at last. Now some of them tell me they want to go back to the camp,” he said.

The fear of destitution is one of the reasons why hundreds of refugees have opted to stay in Rukban, a camp administrator told The National. At its peak, the camp hosted about 60,000 refugees, but by the time the Assad regime fell, the numbers had dwindled to about 1,850.

Inside Maree Al Shehab's home, where he plans to use plastic sheets to cover windows. Photo: Maree Al Shehab
Inside Maree Al Shehab's home, where he plans to use plastic sheets to cover windows. Photo: Maree Al Shehab

Mr Al Shehab is using any means he can to rebuild to allow his family to return. He is hanging blankets to cover doors and plastic sheets for windows. He plans to use as little electricity as possible, as his family has become used to living without it.

However, he expects to pay over $100 to reinstall water – which he cannot afford without job opportunities. He fears that the new government will not be able to provide basic services quickly and hopes international aid organisations can support them. But he is hopeful that Syrians can come together to rebuild their country.

“Freedom has a price, and this price was very high due to 55 years of oppression. Now we need intensive work and solidarity to build a beautiful Syria,” he said.

How to get there

Emirates (www.emirates.com) flies directly to Hanoi, Vietnam, with fares starting from around Dh2,725 return, while Etihad (www.etihad.com) fares cost about Dh2,213 return with a stop. Chuong is 25 kilometres south of Hanoi.
 

Result

UAE (S. Tagliabue 90 1') 1-2 Uzbekistan (Shokhruz Norkhonov 48', 86')

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Always use only regulated platforms

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Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

The National Archives, Abu Dhabi

Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.

Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en

The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre turbo

Power: 181hp

Torque: 230Nm

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

Starting price: Dh79,000

On sale: Now

Last 10 winners of African Footballer of the Year

2006: Didier Drogba (Chelsea and Ivory Coast)
2007: Frederic Kanoute (Sevilla and Mali)
2008: Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal and Togo)
2009: Didier Drogba (Chelsea and Ivory Coast)
2010: Samuel Eto’o (Inter Milan and Cameroon)
2011: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2012: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2013: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2014: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2015: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund and Gabon)
2016: Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City and Algeria)

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher:  Activision
Console: PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One & Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5

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Results

5pm: UAE Martyrs Cup (TB) Conditions Dh90,000 2,200m

Winner: Mudaarab, Jim Crowley (jockey), Erwan Charpy (trainer).

5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap Dh70,000 1,400m

Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Richard Mullen, Hassan Al Hammadi.

6pm: UAE Matyrs Trophy (PA) Maiden Dh80,000 1,600m

Winner: Salima Al Reef, Jesus Rosales, Abdallah Al Hammadi.

6.30pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak (IFAHR) Apprentice Championship (PA) Prestige Dh100,000 1,600m

Winner: Bainoona, Ricardo Iacopini, Eric Lemartinel.

7pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak (IFAHR) Ladies World Championship (PA) Prestige Dh125,000 1,600m

Winner: Assyad, Victoria Larsen, Eric Lemartinel.

8pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown (PA) Group 1 Dh5,000,000 1,600m

Winner: Mashhur Al Khalediah, Jean-Bernard Eyquem, Phillip Collington.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The candidates

Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive

Ali Azeem, business leader

Tony Booth, professor of education

Lord Browne, former BP chief executive

Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist

Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist

Dr Mark Mann, scientist

Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner

Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister

Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster

 

Results

6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 Group 1 (PA) US$75,000 (Dirt) 1,900m

Winner: Ziyadd, Richard Mullen (jockey), Jean de Roualle (trainer).

7.05pm: Al Rashidiya Group 2 (TB) $250,000 (Turf) 1,800m

Winner: Barney Roy, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.

7.40pm: Meydan Cup Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,810m

Winner: Secret Advisor, Tadhg O’Shea, Charlie Appleby.

8.15pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (D) 1,600m

Winner: Plata O Plomo, Carlos Lopez, Susanne Berneklint.

8.50pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m

Winner: Salute The Soldier, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass.

9.25pm: Al Shindagha Sprint Group 3 (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,200m

Winner: Gladiator King, Mickael Barzalona, Satish Seemar.

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WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?

1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull

2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight

3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge

4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own

5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed

The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
Specs

Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric

Range: Up to 610km

Power: 905hp

Torque: 985Nm

Price: From Dh439,000

Available: Now

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
 
Started: 2021
 
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
 
Based: Tunisia 
 
Sector: Water technology 
 
Number of staff: 22 
 
Investment raised: $4 million 
The biog

Name: Abeer Al Bah

Born: 1972

Husband: Emirati lawyer Salem Bin Sahoo, since 1992

Children: Soud, born 1993, lawyer; Obaid, born 1994, deceased; four other boys and one girl, three months old

Education: BA in Elementary Education, worked for five years in a Dubai school

 

Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENadeera%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERabih%20El%20Chaar%20and%20Reem%20Khattar%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ECleanTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETotal%20funding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20About%20%241%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHope%20Ventures%2C%20Rasameel%20Investments%20and%20support%20from%20accelerator%20programmes%20%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2012%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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Lewis Hamilton in 2018

Australia 2nd; Bahrain 3rd; China 4th; Azerbaijan 1st; Spain 1st; Monaco 3rd; Canada 5th; France 1st; Austria DNF; Britain 2nd; Germany 1st; Hungary 1st; Belgium 2nd; Italy 1st; Singapore 1st; Russia 1st; Japan 1st; United States 3rd; Mexico 4th

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
UAE%20ILT20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMarquee%20players%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EMoeen%20Ali%2C%20Andre%20Russell%2C%20Dawid%20Malan%2C%20Wanindu%20Hasiranga%2C%20Sunil%20Narine%2C%20Evin%20Lewis%2C%20Colin%20Munro%2C%20Fabien%20Allen%2C%20Sam%20Billings%2C%20Tom%20Curran%2C%20Alex%20Hales%2C%20Dushmantha%20Chameera%2C%20Shimron%20Hetmyer%2C%20Akeal%20Hosein%2C%20Chris%20Jordan%2C%20Tom%20Banton%2C%20Sandeep%20Lamichhane%2C%20Chris%20Lynn%2C%20Rovman%20Powell%2C%20Bhanuka%20Rajapaksa%2C%20Mujeeb%20Ul%20Rahman%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInternational%20players%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3ELahiru%20Kumara%2C%20Seekugge%20Prassanna%2C%20Charith%20Asalanka%2C%20Colin%20Ingram%2C%20Paul%20Stirling%2C%20Kennar%20Lewis%2C%20Ali%20Khan%2C%20Brandon%20Glover%2C%20Ravi%20Rampaul%2C%20Raymon%20Reifer%2C%20Isuru%20Udana%2C%20Blessing%20Muzarabani%2C%20Niroshan%20Dickwella%2C%20Hazaratullah%20Zazai%2C%20Frederick%20Klassen%2C%20Sikandar%20Raja%2C%20George%20Munsey%2C%20Dan%20Lawrence%2C%20Dominic%20Drakes%2C%20Jamie%20Overton%2C%20Liam%20Dawson%2C%20David%20Wiese%2C%20Qais%20Ahmed%2C%20Richard%20Gleeson%2C%20James%20Vince%2C%20Noor%20Ahmed%2C%20Rahmanullah%20Gurbaz%2C%20Navin%20Ul%20Haq%2C%20Sherfane%20Rutherford%2C%20Saqib%20Mahmood%2C%20Ben%20Duckett%2C%20Benny%20Howell%2C%20Ruben%20Trumpelman%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Match info

Manchester City 3 (Jesus 22', 50', Sterling 69')
Everton 1 (Calvert-Lewin 65')

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

THE SPECS

Engine: 1.6-litre turbo

Transmission: six-speed automatic

Power: 165hp

Torque: 240Nm

Price: From Dh89,000 (Enjoy), Dh99,900 (Innovation)

On sale: Now

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.

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The specs

BMW M8 Competition Coupe

Engine 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8

Power 625hp at 6,000rpm

Torque 750Nm from 1,800-5,800rpm

Gearbox Eight-speed paddleshift auto

Acceleration 0-100kph in 3.2 sec

Top speed 305kph

Fuel economy, combined 10.6L / 100km

Price from Dh700,000 (estimate)

On sale Jan/Feb 2020
 

Russia's Muslim Heartlands

Dominic Rubin, Oxford

MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

Three ways to limit your social media use

Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.

1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.

2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information. 

3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.

Europe’s rearming plan
  • Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
  • Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
  • Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
  • Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
  • Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors

Power: Combined output 920hp

Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic

Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km

On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025

Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000

A Bad Moms Christmas
Dir: John Lucas and Scott Moore
Starring: Mila Kunis, Kathryn Hahn, Kristen Bell, Susan Sarandon, Christine Baranski, Cheryl Hines
Two stars

Updated: January 16, 2025, 3:28 PM`