After the fall of the Syrian regime and Bashar al-Assad’s escape to Russia, the northern areas of Syria, which have been out of its control for years, witnessed a population influx, becoming a destination for many Syrians coming from other provinces.

Shopping, tourism, visiting friends, and discovering new places are all reasons noted by Enab Baladi for the arrivals from different regions in Syria to northern Syria, which is also home to hundreds of displacement camps.

Low prices

During a tour by Enab Baladi in the markets of Idlib city, a fifty-something-year-old man named Samir Badawi said he came from Aleppo to visit the city, and he did not expect that this small geographical area, which has embraced hundreds of thousands of displaced people from various Syrian provinces, managed to establish advanced facilities compared to other Syrian regions.

He added that he came to visit the city after hearing about the activity of its markets and the low prices there, pointing out that the prices of some items are up to half their value in other provinces.

According to his tour, the prices of household and electrical appliances, solar energy systems, and cars are high in Aleppo compared to those available in Idlib and its countryside.

He noted that the price of a refrigerator in Aleppo ranges on average between 10 million Syrian pounds and 14 million pounds (between 700 and 1000 USD), while in Idlib it ranges between 3 million pounds and 7.5 million pounds (200 to 500 USD), depending on the size and quality.

A destination for car purchases

The northern Syrian region has seen an increase in car purchases due to lower prices; for example, a Kia Rio car costs 41 million pounds (3000 USD) in Idlib, while in regime-controlled areas, it can reach 200 million pounds (around 15,000 USD).

Last week, car prices in northern Syria rose, but they remain low compared to other areas, according to sellers interviewed by Enab Baladi.

Furniture and food supplies at half the price

Mrs. Amani Dalati visited the shopping malls in the city of al-Dana in northern Idlib to buy furniture for her home in Aleppo after returning from Turkey following the fall of the Assad regime.

The shopping malls offer Turkish and European goods of high quality at prices less than half of what is sold in other Syrian areas.

The price of a bedroom set for couples ranges between 4.5 million pounds and 15 million pounds (between 300 and 1000 USD), while the price of a medium-quality room in Aleppo is 23 million pounds (1400 USD).

She added that most food products, supplies, and even detergents are cheaper; a liter of frying oil costs 30,000 pounds in Aleppo, while in northern regions, it is about 22,000 pounds.

Increased shopping traffic in Idlib markets – December 25, 2024 (Enab Baladi/Samah Alloush)

Another woman, Shadha, said she came to visit Idlib’s markets with her family and relatives from Hama, focusing on the diverse Turkish clothing and shoe markets.

She mentioned that she used to have to buy those products through orders at high prices, with no possibility of exchange or return.

Tourist trips

Due to the desire of Syrian provinces’ residents to visit Idlib and its countryside, many transportation companies have organized daily trips there, including shopping programs with stops at various places, including shopping malls and restaurants.

Since 2020, residents of northern Syria have been using the Turkish lira, and after the regime’s fall, sellers began accepting payments in Syrian pounds to facilitate buying and selling.

According to Enab Baladi‘s observations, families from As-Suwayda, Latakia, and Hama have come to visit their relatives in northern Syria through public transportation vehicles.

Increased visits of families from Syrian provinces to Idlib city – December 25, 2024 (Enab Baladi/Samah Alloush)

The amusement parks caught the attention of the young man Amer al-Ragheb, who came from Hama to Idlib, especially the electric rides that his children missed in their city due to 20 hours of power cuts every day.

He stated that the regime’s fall has allowed Syrians to live freedom “in its highest forms,” as restrictions and barriers have been broken, enabling them to travel to any province without the fear of arrest.

Five amusement parks are active in Idlib city, some of which were established before 2011 and were refurbished by their owners, while others were newly established, such as “Happy Land,” “Al-Noor Tourist Complex,” and “Disneyland,” along with various rides next to restaurants and some facilities.

Despite the booming shopping in the city, the residents of Idlib are experiencing deteriorating economic and living conditions, with high unemployment rates; the daily wage for workers does not exceed 65,000 pounds (5 USD) at best.

Moreover, hundreds of thousands of displaced and uprooted people in northern Syria are awaiting assistance for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of their homes damaged during the years of war.

On December 26, the spokesperson for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), William Spindler, announced that nearly one million Syrians are in need of assistance worth 310 million dollars to facilitate their return to their country during the first six months of 2025.