Live updates: Follow the latest on Syria
The fall of Bashar Al Assad's regime in Syria has led to elation among the estimated 1.5 million Syrian refugees living in Egypt, with many already making plans to return home. However, after years spent in exile, others say they prefer to remain in the country where they have rebuilt their lives after fleeing the Syrian civil war that broke out in 2011.
Quteiba Abdelaziz, 33, a former resident of Homs who co-owns a shawarma restaurant in the Egyptian coastal city of Rashid, said, “It is difficult to describe our happiness over the past few days. I don't think a single Syrian has been able to sleep, we were all staying up till dawn, calling each other, watching news and making plans to return home.”
Mr Abdelaziz arrived in Egypt in 2012 and has since lived and worked in more than a dozen of the country's 27 provinces, moving around to find work. He opened his restaurant in 2021 with his brother and cousin after nearly a decade of saving.
“Many in our community have already started to make their plans to depart Egypt,” Mr Abdelaziz said. “Only Syrians understand the kind of fear that we were forced to deal with under Bashar Al Assad and the terror he unleashed with the military. That was the main reason why we couldn’t return before; everyone was worried about detentions at the border. They arrest, torture and interrogate you on why you left Syria in the first place.”
According to Mr Abdelaziz, the first people expected to return are those who were living “half lives” in Egypt, either because they had left loved ones back in Syria or because they were struggling to survive, especially in light of the rise in cost of living in Egypt.
“Many of these people are on renewable tourist visas only and lack formal residency, making their decision to return easier compared to those with established businesses or student visas,” he said.
For Syrians to remain in Egypt legally, they must hold either a student or investor visa, or be an asylum seeker or a refugee registered with UNHCR, the UN refugee agency. Only about 150,000 of the Syrians who fled to Egypt have registered with the UN, which entitles them to certain services provided by the UNHCR and its partners, such as health care, education and psychosocial support.
I don’t own much here and my children are eager to return as well. They have their own memories of Aleppo
Thoraya Al Halaby,
Syrian dessert stall operator
Mr Abdelaziz says he will most likely live between Egypt and Syria so that he can keep his shawarma restaurant in Rashid going.
“My partners and I have been discussing the best way to keep our business open and also go home. We will probably do it on a rotation, where two of us will stay in Egypt while the other visits Syria and when he returns, one of the others can go,” he said.
Thoraya Al Halaby, 57, a mother of four whose husband died in Aleppo in 2014 during air strikes by Syrian government troops, said she would return the first chance she gets.
She says that most people in her lower-income Syrian community in Cairo’s Al Obour district, will also do the same.
“Assad is gone. He went back to hell where he came. Our country has been liberated. It is an emotion that I find difficult to describe without coming to tears,” said Ms Al Halaby, who runs a Syrian dessert stall in Al Obour. “When I first heard the news, I was frozen. I don’t own much here and my children are eager to return as well. They have their own memories of Aleppo.”
Bassem Obeid, 43, from Idlib and owner of three restaurants in Al Obour, came to Egypt in 2013 after a brief stay in Turkey. He plans to visit Syria in the coming months because he has not been back in over a decade. “I miss everything about Syria. The food, the buildings, the sea. It will always be home.”
However, he says he will most likely return to Egypt after the visit to manage his restaurants.
“We have investor visas and my children have lived here longer than they have in Syria. They want to stay in Cairo and we have made a home here. But we will visit Syria frequently and we will be at peace knowing my mother and sisters are safe in their homes with Assad gone,” Mr Obeid said.
Both Mr Obeid and Mr Abdelaziz spoke of the warm relations between Egyptians and Syrians, explaining that Syrians have had a positive impact on the Egyptian economy. “I think many Egyptians saw that we all had very difficult starts and they respected that, as a community, we built this successful network of businesses,” Mr Obeid said.
Is it reasonable for refugees to return after a 13-year war? Where is the infrastructure? Where are the schools? Where are the hospitals?
Bodoor Al Eryan,
former director of the Syria branch of Arab Women Union
According to a 2022 report by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Syrian investment in Egypt since 2011 surpassed $1 billion and there were at least 30,000 registered Syrian businesses in the country. This is far lower than the number of refugees, suggesting that moving back to Syria from Egypt would not entail a financial cost for most of them. However, Syrian experts have also warned that the return of the more than 14 million displaced by the conflict will be much more difficult than people might think.
During a round-table discussion on an Egyptian talk show on Sunday night, Bodoor Al Eryan, the former director of the Syria branch of Arab Women Union, said that while Syrians might romanticise return, the reality of what they will face when they do is sobering.
“Is it reasonable for refugees to return after a 13-year war? Where is the infrastructure? Where are the schools? Where are the hospitals? After so long at war, there is destruction everywhere. There have been many arrests. It has become a scary and empty country,” Ms Al Eryan said. “This is why we are calling on Arab countries, especially those in the Gulf, to help fund the rebuilding of Syria. The brutal regime handed over the buildings with just their walls.”
MATCH INFO
Southampton 0
Manchester City 1 (Sterling 16')
Man of the match: Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City)
Tips to avoid getting scammed
1) Beware of cheques presented late on Thursday
2) Visit an RTA centre to change registration only after receiving payment
3) Be aware of people asking to test drive the car alone
4) Try not to close the sale at night
5) Don't be rushed into a sale
6) Call 901 if you see any suspicious behaviour
The biog
Name: Younis Al Balooshi
Nationality: Emirati
Education: Doctorate degree in forensic medicine at the University of Bonn
Hobbies: Drawing and reading books about graphic design
Company%C2%A0profile
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Super 30
Produced: Sajid Nadiadwala and Phantom Productions
Directed: Vikas Bahl
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Pankaj Tripathi, Aditya Srivastav, Mrinal Thakur
Rating: 3.5 /5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
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)
UAE%20PREMIERSHIP
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFinal%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%20Hurricanes%20v%20Jebel%20Ali%20Dragons%0D%3Cbr%3E%0DSaturday%2C%208.15pm%2C%20Al%20Ain%20Amblers%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ESemi-final%20results%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EDubai%20Exiles%2020-26%20Dubai%20Hurricanes%0D%3Cbr%3EDubai%20Tigers%2032-43%20Jebel%20Ali%20Dragons%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ETable%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E1%20Dubai%20Tigers%2C%2033%20points%0D%3Cbr%3E2%20Dubai%20Exiles%2C%2024%20points%0D%3Cbr%3E3%20Dubai%20Hurricanes%2C%2018%20points%0D%3Cbr%3E4%20Jebel%20Ali%20Dragons%2C%2014%20points%0D%3Cbr%3E5%20Abu%20Dhabi%20Harlequins%2C%2014%20points%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
It’ll be summer in the city as car show tries to move with the times
If 2008 was the year that rocked Detroit, 2019 will be when Motor City gives its annual car extravaganza a revamp that aims to move with the times.
A major change is that this week's North American International Auto Show will be the last to be held in January, after which the event will switch to June.
The new date, organisers said, will allow exhibitors to move vehicles and activities outside the Cobo Center's halls and into other city venues, unencumbered by cold January weather, exemplified this week by snow and ice.
In a market in which trends can easily be outpaced beyond one event, the need to do so was probably exacerbated by the decision of Germany's big three carmakers – BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi – to skip the auto show this year.
The show has long allowed car enthusiasts to sit behind the wheel of the latest models at the start of the calendar year but a more fluid car market in an online world has made sales less seasonal.
Similarly, everyday technology seems to be catching up on those whose job it is to get behind microphones and try and tempt the visiting public into making a purchase.
Although sparkly announcers clasp iPads and outline the technical gadgetry hidden beneath bonnets, people's obsession with their own smartphones often appeared to offer a more tempting distraction.
“It's maddening,” said one such worker at Nissan's stand.
The absence of some pizzazz, as well as top marques, was also noted by patrons.
“It looks like there are a few less cars this year,” one annual attendee said of this year's exhibitors.
“I can't help but think it's easier to stay at home than to brave the snow and come here.”
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