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Damascus bookstores long for customers as economic crisis bites purchasing power

The AsharqAl-Awsat reported, n one of the open bookstores in the Syrian capital, Damascus, only a handful of customers wander through the shelves and flip through books for sale, while the owner puts up a sign explaining that books sold are non-refundable and non-exchangeable.
For many Syrians, buying a book has become a luxury they cannot afford after the economic crisis ate away at their purchasing power.
Bookstore owner Omar al-Nouri told Reuters: “Before, customers would ask if we had the book, then buy it and leave. Today they ask about the price before seeing if they have enough money to pay.”
According to the report, more than a decade of war in Syria has led to the closure of many bookstores that used to attract dozens of readers and enthusiasts.
Today, however, a few book stores remain open, with most Syrians choosing to buy from book stalls on the street because of their lower prices.

Alan Khalaf, a practicing doctor, clarifies why he prefers buying books from street vendors rather than bookstores.
“I love looking. I mean, I love to see everything and read. Here people are more cooperative than bookstore keepers,” he said, adding that buying from stalls is much cheaper.
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Street books vendor Abu Osama notes that they can sell the books at a lower price because the books are old and, in some cases, refurbished.
Abu Osama said: “Cracked books, we fix them. There are people whose financial situation is bad, and there are people who love old books, and their prices are lower than the new ones.”
After being productive, the Syrian economy began to decline in 2019 under the influence of the financial collapse in Lebanon, which led to a sharp drop in the value of the Syrian currency.
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The report noted that the United Nations says that the number of needy people in the country reached 14.6 million in 2021, increasing 1.2 million since 2020.
Source: aawsat
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BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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