Damascus News Platform — News — Damascus
Dr. Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the President of the UAE, confirmed that his country’s initiative to restore the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, supported by Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, represents an inspiring step that reflects the UAE’s civilizational message and highlights the deep ties connecting the Emirates with Syria and its Arab and Islamic heritage.
▪️ The United Arab Emirates officially announced a major initiative to restore and rehabilitate the Great Umayyad Mosque and the entire surrounding historic district, with the aim of preserving Syria’s historical heritage. The initiative comes under the directives of UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to begin comprehensive maintenance and restoration works.
▪️ The announcement coincided with the first Syrian-Emirati Investment Forum held in Damascus, during the visit of UAE Minister of State Noura Al Kaabi to the Syrian capital, which included an inspection tour through the halls and courtyards of the Umayyad Mosque.
▪️ The project includes restoring the mosque’s damaged structural and architectural elements, reviving its historic decorations and mosaics, and rehabilitating the surrounding area in Old Damascus in a way that aligns with the city’s cultural, social, and economic fabric.
▪️ The Emirati initiative will also expand to include the restoration and rehabilitation of several other damaged historic mosques across different Syrian provinces, with the goal of protecting them from deterioration and preserving their historical value.
