Yara Sabri Opens Up About Her Life and Challenges in "I Have a Question" Program
November 16, 2024, 1:03 pm

Yara Sabri Opens Up About Her Life and Challenges in

يارا صبري

Yara Sabri appeared on the program "I Have a Question," hosted by Mohammad Qais, where she discussed her personal and artistic life, as well as her struggles during the Syrian war.

In a candid interview lasting over an hour, which aired on the Al-Mashhad YouTube channel on Friday, November 15, 2024, Yara shared her difficult experience following the passing of her mother, Thanaa Dabsi, and her inability to see her before her death due to her forced displacement from Syria.

Regarding her reasons for moving to Canada, Sabri explained her hardships related to being unable to renew her passport in her native Syria, as she was accused of treason. She emphasized that no one can strip her of her Syrian identity.

Yara stated, "As a citizen, I am not allowed to express my opinion. It turns out that we, as opposition members, are not entitled to renew our passports because there are warrants out for us, as I am accused of supporting terrorism. So, when I try to renew my passport, it doesn’t work because I am considered a traitor."

She continued, "I started to seriously think about how long I would remain beholden to them. At that time, there was an opportunity to immigrate to Canada, and I spent four years there to obtain Canadian citizenship."

As for the allegations of receiving bribes to change her political stance and support the revolution that began in 2011, Yara denied all those rumors, asserting that she does not align with any political party, which she believes is her natural right to express herself as a Syrian citizen.

During the interview, Sabri confirmed that she has not asked anyone to return to Syria and that she is content with her life as it is, expressing gratitude for her family, work, and the successes she has achieved throughout her artistic career. She emphasized that she remains Syrian, having grown up, lived, and worked as an actress in Syria, where she has received love from the audience, whom she holds in high regard.

Regarding the possibility of her returning to Syria, Yara explained that nothing has changed to make her consider the idea. She does not feel safe at present, and if there were a way to ensure the safety of those who have been forcibly displaced from Syria, they should return. She expressed, “Returning to Syria? We all should return together.”

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.