'My 40-year wait ends'; Meet hopeful Syrians returning home to Damascus after long hiatus

Dubai: For many Syrians, including those based in Dubai, the journey home has been decades in the making. On Wednesday, July 16, Emirates operated its first flight to Damascus in 13 years, carrying passengers whose return signifies both profound personal milestones and a cautious sense of national hope.

Among them was Khalil, a Syrian national from the US, who told Gulf News onboard, "I am flying to my home country, Syria. I have been away for 40 years." Khalil’s journey, which involved flying from Miami to Dubai before connecting to Syria, highlights the newly opened possibilities as more airlines resume scheduled operations. This marked his second trip home in two months.

Hundreds of passengers, like Khalil, were finally making their way back to Syria, in many cases after decades of absence from the war-torn nation. The atmosphere was charged with hope as the global Syrian diaspora took careful steps towards their homeland.

Yet, the hopeful reunion for many was immediately met with the stark reality of ongoing regional tensions. Passengers arrived with news of Israeli attacks on Damascus on the same day. For these returning Syrians, the welcome home was a chilling reminder of the ongoing conflict. Israel struck the Syrian military HQ in Umayyad Square, Damascus, on Wednesday.

Despite these challenges, the overwhelming sentiment among the Syrian diaspora remains focused on rebuilding and revitalising their war-torn nation. “It is getting much better now. I hope it will get much better with the new President,” Khalil remarked, expressing cautious optimism.

Adil Al Ghaith, Senior Vice President Commercial Operations at Emirates, underscored the airline’s commitment to restoring vital links. "We are so happy to reconnect Damascus with our network," he said. "Damascus is an old route, which we had opened in 1988... we suspended our operations in 2012. We are happy that the entire situation has changed, and we decided to reconnect."

Emirates will operate three flights per week to Damascus, with plans to increase to daily flights from October due to high demand. Al Ghaith said, “There is a huge opportunity for investors, and Syrians who’ve lived abroad for so many years can now use Emirates to come back home.”

Mohammed Ammar Alkhatib, a Syrian living in the UAE, said: “I am flying to Damascus after over five years since I last visited Syria. I am so excited to land, see the city, meet the people, and see the new changes. I am going there now for a short visit for 10-12 days to explore new options and new economic features we can contribute to.”

Syria’s aviation reboot, however, is fraught with significant hurdles. Inadequate infrastructure, persistent regional conflict, and intermittent Israeli airstrikes continue to deter more airlines. These challenges undermine broader efforts to revive the country’s economy after years of civil war. On Wednesday, for instance, Israel struck the Syrian military HQ in Umayyad Square, Damascus.

Still, Emirates, other UAE carriers, and regional carriers are persistent in their pursuit. Alaa Sallal, Director of Public Relations at the General Authority of Civil Aviation, Syria, said, "The teams from the Syrian Civil Aviation Authority and the United Arab Emirates worked tirelessly, through high-level coordination and a shared vision, to meet all requirements necessary to resume air operations."

He added. "These fruitful efforts culminated in the successful reinstatement of Emirates’ flights to Damascus – a step that reflects the depth of cooperation between both sides and their shared commitment to strengthening fraternal and economic ties."

The path to complete recovery is undoubtedly challenging. Yet, it is this resilient sense of hope and determination that continues to drive Syrians forward in their efforts to rebuild their country from the ground up.