The Damascus International Fairgrounds in the countryside of Damascus are preparing to host the 62nd edition of the Damascus International Fair on August 27, under the slogan “Syria Welcomes the World.”

This is the first edition to be held since the fall of the Assad regime and after a six-year suspension.

Mohammad Hamza, Director General of the General Establishment for Fairs and International Markets, told Enab Baladi that since April the new administration of the Syrian Exhibition Authority made what he described as a “bold decision,” as it represented a major challenge amid the circumstances Syria has faced since late 2024. He explained that the fairgrounds had been damaged and were not ready to host an event that has long been considered part of Damascus’ economic, social, and cultural fabric.

Hamza said the infrastructure of the exhibition spaces was in urgent need of maintenance and renovation after years of neglect.

Following the announcement, the Syrian government provided both financial and moral support to the fair, considering it a national duty. According to Hamza, the goal was to restore the fair’s former prominence, present a genuine image of the Syrian economy, and give Syrian businesses and industries an opportunity to engage with the latest global advances and technologies in economic sectors.

225 foreign companies

Hamza revealed that more than 20 countries will participate this year, which he described as significant given that outreach to foreign participants only began three months ago.

The countries include: Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar, Egypt, Turkey, Sudan, Belgium, South Africa, Algeria, Libya, Pakistan, Palestine, Abkhazia, Indonesia, North Macedonia, the Philippines, Poland, the Czech Republic, and the European Chamber of Commerce.

He confirmed that 225 foreign companies will take part, alongside around 725 Arab and local companies, covering an exhibition space of 95,000 square meters.

Hamza highlighted the fair’s importance this year in helping build a strong, competitive Syrian economy at a time when other countries have achieved tremendous progress in all fields of life.

He noted that in past decades the fair had seen severe stagnation, with many countries declining to participate due to the rigid economic mindset that dominated Syrian policymaking, which had turned the economy into a stagnant and weakened system.

Hamza expressed hope that Syrian industrialists, economists, and businesspeople would secure a notable share of the global market, making this year’s edition a gateway to openness and the “foundation stone” for Syria’s economic renewal.

Cultural and entertainment programs

The fair’s management emphasized that the event is not limited to economics and trade but also celebrates culture and art, offering a diverse range of activities to create a “rich and comprehensive experience.”

This year’s edition will feature several theatrical productions, including two plays being staged for the first time.

In its first editions, the fair was famously inaugurated with a performance by legendary Lebanese singer Fairuz, who continued to perform at the Damascus International Fair annually until 1977, when the Lebanese Civil War ended her participation.

As the fair’s success grew, it attracted wider regional and Arab interest, and the participation of Arab artists became commonplace, followed later by international music groups and theatrical performances.

The Damascus Fairgrounds span 1.2 million square meters, including 70,000 square meters of built exhibition halls and 65,000 square meters of open-air exhibition space, featuring international pavilions, private sector displays, sales sections, a national Syrian pavilion, and a section for handicrafts.

More than one million visitors

The Damascus International Fair was first held in 1954 under former President Hashim al-Atassi, marking a unique event in the Arab region and the largest exhibition in the Middle East at the time. It featured diverse activities and was inaugurated by Syria’s top political leaders.

Originally planned as a quinquennial event, its resounding success drawing more than one million visitors, according to the official website of the General Establishment for Fairs and International Markets led the government to make it an annual event.

In 1955, then-President Shukri al-Quwatli issued a republican decree establishing the “General Directorate of the Damascus International Fair” to oversee and develop the exhibition annually, in the area extending from Umayyad Square to Victoria Bridge in central Damascus.