Famous People Born In Damascus

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 1 
Bashar al-Assad
(President of Syria)
Bashar al-Assad
75
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: September 11, 1965
Sun Sign: Virgo

Bashar al-Assad is the current president of Syria and has been serving in this position since 17 July 2000. Over the years, he has also had a major impact on Syria as the commander-in-chief of the country's Armed Forces. In 2011, his decision to impose military sieges on protesters participating in the Arab Spring resulted in the ongoing Syrian Civil War.

 2 
John of Damascus
(Saint, Best Known for His Strong Defence of 'Icons')
John of Damascus
0
Birthdate: 0676 AD
Died: December 4, 0749

John of Damascus was a Christian apologist, priest, and monk. A polymath, John contributed to various fields, such as philosophy, theology, law, and music. He also wrote several works explaining the Christian faith. The hymns which he composed are still used in Eastern Christian practice as well as in western Lutheranism.

 3 
Nizar Qabbani
(Diplomat)
Nizar Qabbani
7
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: March 21, 1923
Sun Sign: Aries
Died: April 30, 1998

Nizar Qabbani was a Syrian writer, diplomat, publisher, and poet. Renowned for incorporating themes like eroticism, religion, love, feminism, and Arab nationalism into his poetry, Qabbani's poems have achieved worldwide acclaim; they have been translated into many languages, including English and Russian. Regarded as Syria's National Poet, Qabbani is also one of the most respected poets in the Arab world.

 4 
Ananias of Damascus
(Syrian Priest)
Ananias of Damascus
0
Listed In: Miscellaneous
 5 
Feras Antoon
(Syrian-Canadian Pornographer & Co-owner and CEO of 'Mindgeek', the World's Largest Pornography Company)
Feras Antoon
7
Listed In: Business People
Birthdate: June 29, 1975
Sun Sign: Cancer

Canadian pornographer Feras Antoon is best known as co-founder and CEO of the privately held Canadian company called MindGeek that mainly focuses on pornography. It is considered to be the largest pornography company across the world and runs many popular pornographic video sharing websites like Pornhub, YouPorn and RedTube, and also adult film production companies like Brazzers and Reality Kings.

 6 
Ibn an-Nafīs
(Polymath)
Ibn an-Nafīs
0
Birthdate: 1213 AD
Died: December 17, 1288
 7 
Dündar Aliosman
(Ruler)
Dündar Aliosman
3
Birthdate: December 30, 1930
Sun Sign: Capricorn
 8 
Yasser Seirawan
(American Chess Grandmaster and Four-Time United States Champion)
Yasser Seirawan
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: March 24, 1960
Sun Sign: Aries
 9 
Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik
(The 10th Umayyad Caliph Who Built Many Palaces and Reformed His Kingdom's Taxation System)
Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik
0
Birthdate: 0691 AD
Died: February 6, 0743

The 10th Umayyad caliph Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik reigned during a relatively calm period. His main goal was to defend the vast empire that he had inherited. He built countless castles and palaces in Syria. He is also believed to have reformed the agricultural taxation system of his kingdom.

 10 
Shukri al-Quwatli
(The First President of Post-Independence Syria)
Shukri al-Quwatli
1
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: May 6, 1891
Sun Sign: Taurus
Died: June 30, 1967

Shukri al-Quwatli was not just the 8th president of Syria but also its first president post-independence. He was part of the National Bloc and also led the Syrian anti-colonialist movement. He was overthrown by a coup, imprisoned, and exiled. Re-elected later, he was merely a nominal head.

 11 
Sophronius of Jerusalem
(Patriarch of Jerusalem)
Sophronius of Jerusalem
1
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: 0560 AD
Died: March 11, 0638
Sophronius of Jerusalem served as the Patriarch of Jerusalem from 634 to 638. He is revered as a saint in the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches. Prior to his rise to the primacy of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Sophronius of Jerusalem served as a theologian and monk.
 12 
Damascius
(Last Scholarch of the 'School of Athens')
Damascius
0
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: 0458 AD
Died: 0538 AD
One of the pagan philosophers oppressed by Emperor Justinian I, Damascius was a scholarch of the School of Athens. Among his extant works are commentaries on the works of Greek philosopher, Plato. Damascius started his career as a professor of rhetoric and went on to serve as the principal of the School of Athens.
 13 
Dina Katabi
(American Computer Scientist)
Dina Katabi
0
Listed In: Scientists
Birthdate: 1970 AD
 14 
Salah al-Din Bitar
(Syrian Politician and Co-founder of ‘Arab Ba'ath Party’ Who Served as Prime Minister)
Salah al-Din Bitar
2
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: January 1, 1912
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Died: July 21, 1980

Syrian politician Salah al-Din al-Bitar, a noted theorist of Arab democratic nationalism, co-founded the Arab Ba'ath Party that espoused Baʿathism. al-Bitar served thrice as Prime Minister of Syria in Ba'athist governments, but later had differences with younger members of the party that grew more radical. He left Syria, lived in exile, however remained politically active till his assassination in 1980.

 15 
Ben-Hadad I
(King)
Ben-Hadad I
0
 16 
Naser Khader
(Member of the Folketing)
Naser Khader
0
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: July 1, 1963
Sun Sign: Cancer
 17 
Abu'l-Fida
(Historian)
Abu'l-Fida
0
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: 1273
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Died: October 27, 1331
 18 
Nicholas of Damascus
(Greek historian and philosopher)
Nicholas of Damascus
1
Birthdate: 0064 BC
Died: 0004 BC
 19 
Khalid Bakdash
(Syrian Communist Party Leader Who Was the First Communist Deputy of the Arab World)
Khalid Bakdash
0
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: November 15, 1912
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Died: July 15, 1995

Expelled from law school due to illegal political activities, Syrian politician Khalid Bakdash later joined the Communist Party. He was jailed by the French but eventually emerged as the first Communist leader to be elected to an Arab parliament. He later had a tiff with fellow Communist leader Yusuf Faisal.

 20 
Abd al-Ghani al-Nabulsi
(Scholar)
Abd al-Ghani al-Nabulsi
1
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: March 19, 1641
Sun Sign: Pisces
Died: March 5, 1731
 21 
John Moschus
(Byzantine writer)
John Moschus
0
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: 0550 AD
Died: 0619 AD
 22 
Dima Khatib
(One of the Most Influential and Famous Arabs on Social Media)
Dima Khatib
0
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: July 14, 1971
Sun Sign: Cancer
Dima Khatib is a Syrian-born journalist, translator, and poet. She is currently working as the managing director of a popular digital news service called AJ+, which was launched in San Francisco, USA, by Al Jazeera Media Network. Dima Khatib is also a popular social media influencer and is counted among the most influential and famous Arabs on social media.
 23 
Khalid al-Qasri
(Umayyad Governor of Iraq Who Contributed to the Agricultural Improvement of Iraq)
Khalid al-Qasri
0
Listed In: Leaders
Died: 0743 AD

Umayyad governor of Iraq, Khalid al-Qasri began his career as the governor of Mecca. Later, as the governor of Iraq, he made efforts to develop the agricultural prosperity of his kingdom. He also built a church, his mother being a Christian. He was later jailed for embezzlement and eventually executed.

 24 
Shihab al-Din al-'Umari
(Historian)
Shihab al-Din al-'Umari
0
Birthdate: June 20, 1300
Sun Sign: Gemini
Died: 1384 AD
 25 
Anahid Fayad
(Actress)
Anahid Fayad
3
Birthdate: July 6, 1983
Sun Sign: Cancer
 26 
Saint Andrew of Crete
(Theologian)
Saint Andrew of Crete
0
Birthdate: 0650 AD
Died: July 4, 0740
 27 
Salwa Al Neimi
(Syrian Writer, Journalist, and Poet)
Salwa Al Neimi
0
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: 1950 AD
Salwa Al Neimi is a Syrian writer, journalist, and poet. She is best known for her honest views on controversial and sensitive topics like sexuality, which are considered taboo in the Muslim world. Salwa Al Neimi achieved popularity after the release of her debut novel Burhān al-ʿasal, which was translated into several languages including English and French. 
 28 
George Howie
(Racecar driver)
George Howie
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: April 26, 1899
Sun Sign: Taurus
Died: November 11, 1979
 29 
Yasmine Kateb
(Instagram Photographer)
Yasmine Kateb
1
Listed In: Instagram Stars
Birthdate: October 18, 1992
Sun Sign: Libra
 30 
Youssef Kabani
(TikTok Star Who Posts Lifestyle Content, Comedy Videos, and Trends)
Youssef Kabani
0
Birthdate: January 1, 2001
Sun Sign: Capricorn
 31 
Riad Ismat
(Syrian Writer, Theatre Director, Critic, and Diplomat)
Riad Ismat
11
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: July 11, 1947
Sun Sign: Cancer
Died: May 13, 2020
Riad Ismat was a Syrian writer, theatre director, and critic. Also a political figure, Ismat served as the Minister of Culture from 2010 to 2012. Prior to his service as Minister of Culture, Riad Ismat served as Syrian ambassador to Pakistan and Qatar. A renowned playwright and theatre director, Riad Ismat is also credited with founding Syria's first mime troupe.
 32 
Nora Jabassini
(YouTuber Who Appears on the Fine Bros. YouTube Series "Teens React.")
Nora Jabassini
0
Listed In: YouTubers
Birthdate: November 13, 1998
Sun Sign: Scorpio