A Syrian Air flight landed at Sharjah International Airport on Tuesday, making it the first outward-bound international commercial flight from Damascus since Syrian rebels toppled former president Bashar Al Assad's government last month.
The plane, which was carrying 145 Syrian citizens, according to the Sana news agency, landed shortly after 3.35pm. It marked a return to international travel from the Syrian capital after flights were grounded on December 8.
Syrian nationals arrived in their droves at Sharjah's airport to welcome family members into the country for the first time since 13 years of civil war came to an end, expressing deep feelings of emotion and celebration.
Omar Al Shayeb, 31, has been living in the UAE for nearly two and a half years. On Tuesday, he greeted his mother, who is leaving Syria for the first time in her life, for a one-month visit.
International flights resume from Damascus – in pictures
“I originally booked her ticket before the regime’s fall and she was supposed to arrive on December 9,” he told The National. “Then the events unfolded and the flight was delayed. It was a mix of happiness and sadness, but I’m grateful because the delay happened for a great reason. Before these events, whenever I suggested visiting Syria, the first thing she would say was, ‘Don’t even think about it, the situation is too dangerous', but now, the country that was once captive is finally free.”
His mother, Umm Omar, 61, lost a 17-year-old son in 2013, when the regime's warplanes bombed her home in Al Ruhayba, north of Damascus. She shared her experience of leaving Syria after the fall of the Assad regime. “Before the liberation, we couldn’t travel without running into checkpoints everywhere,” she said.
“You’d barely drive a short distance before reaching another checkpoint. Today, everything was different. I swear, I felt like the whole world was lit up, the roads were open, everything felt easy.”
When asked how she felt leaving Syria after the regime’s downfall, she let out a long sigh and said: “It was the greatest blessing. Thank God for it. Maybe our trip was delayed so we could live to see this moment.”
'Unlike anything I've ever experienced'
Dima Al Bayrouti, 32, welcomed her mother with her son, daughter and a bouquet. “This is the first time I’m greeting my mother as she arrives from a liberated country, instead of a war-torn one like before,” she told The National. “We’re welcoming all our guests coming from Syria with an overwhelming sense of joy and pride.”
Her mother, Feryal Tartoussi, 55, shared her thoughts on the journey from Damascus. “The experience was completely different this time,” she said. "The young men working there were so polite, wishing us well and treating us kindly, even apologising or asking permission if needed."
“This was unlike anything I’ve experienced before, and I’ve travelled many times in the past,” Ms Tartoussi added. “The difference is clear. This time, we felt like our country is truly ours again … It’s a moment that filled me with hope.”
Fellow Syrian citizen Khaled Al Hamadi, 45, spoke to The National as he waited for his mother and sister to arrive and reflected Ms Tartoussi's comments that the airport facilities in Damascus have improved, having been in constant contact with his mother and sister since they arrived for their flight. “They told me how excellent the airport’s condition is. They said the services have improved tremendously, and the staff treated them with utmost care,” he said. “The service was fast and efficient. We never dreamt this could happen.”
Reflecting on the broader changes, he said: “The country has started to breathe again after being suffocated for so long.”
International picture
Flights from Doha, Qatar, to Damascus International Airport also resumed on Tuesday for the first time in 13 years. Qatar Airways stopped its services to the Syrian capital and Aleppo in 2011 because of the country's civil war.
Syrian Air flights between Damascus and Dubai are fully booked until January 13, with trips costing Dh1,030 ($280), a member of the airline's staff told The National.
The Syrian Arab News Agency quoted Ashhad Al Salibi, chairman of the Syrian General Authority of Civil Aviation and Air Transport, as saying: “We reassure Arab and international airlines that we are in the process of fully rehabilitating both Aleppo and Damascus airports, with the assistance of our partners, to ensure they can receive flights from all over the world.”
What next for flights to and from Syria?
Other airlines across the region are keeping tight-lipped about plans to resume flights to Syria, with most unable to offer any update when contacted by The National as they are taking a wait-and-see approach. “We are closely monitoring the situation in the market,” a flydubai representative said. “We continue to work closely with the relevant authorities.”
The flights follows a move by US President Joe Biden's administration on Monday that eased some of the country's sanctions on Syria, allowing for quicker delivery of humanitarian aid for the interim government in Damascus.
For an initial six months, the decision will allow the Treasury Department to issue waivers to aid groups and companies providing essentials including water, electricity and other humanitarian supplies.
“This action underscores the United States’ commitment to ensuring that US sanctions do not impede activities to meet basic human needs, including the provision of public services or humanitarian assistance,” the Treasury said.
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UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
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Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
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Analysis
Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more
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Director: Mahdi Fleifel
Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa
Rating: 4.5/5
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Company%20Profile
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The five pillars of Islam
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
Other ways to buy used products in the UAE
UAE insurance firm Al Wathba National Insurance Company (AWNIC) last year launched an e-commerce website with a facility enabling users to buy car wrecks.
Bidders and potential buyers register on the online salvage car auction portal to view vehicles, review condition reports, or arrange physical surveys, and then start bidding for motors they plan to restore or harvest for parts.
Physical salvage car auctions are a common method for insurers around the world to move on heavily damaged vehicles, but AWNIC is one of the few UAE insurers to offer such services online.
For cars and less sizeable items such as bicycles and furniture, Dubizzle is arguably the best-known marketplace for pre-loved.
Founded in 2005, in recent years it has been joined by a plethora of Facebook community pages for shifting used goods, including Abu Dhabi Marketplace, Flea Market UAE and Arabian Ranches Souq Market while sites such as The Luxury Closet and Riot deal largely in second-hand fashion.
At the high-end of the pre-used spectrum, resellers such as Timepiece360.ae, WatchBox Middle East and Watches Market Dubai deal in authenticated second-hand luxury timepieces from brands such as Rolex, Hublot and Tag Heuer, with a warranty.
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Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
JOKE'S%20ON%20YOU
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Price, base: Dh5.1 million
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Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
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Torque: 980Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 13.5L / 100km
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'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
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- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
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BMW M5 specs
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
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Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Zayed Sustainability Prize
