List of Famous people born in Damascus Governorate, Syria
Bashar al-Assad
Bashar Hafez al-Assad is a Syrian politician who has been the 19th president of Syria since 17 July 2000. In addition, he is the commander-in-chief of the Syrian Armed Forces and regional secretary of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party's branch in Syria. His father, Hafez al-Assad, was the president of Syria before him, serving from 1971 to 2000.
Yazid I
Yazid ibn Mu'awiya ibn Abi Sufyan, commonly known as Yazid I, was the second caliph of the Umayyad Caliphate. He ruled for three years from 680 until his death in 683. His appointment was the first hereditary succession in Islamic history. His Caliphate was marked by the death of Muhammad's grandson Husayn ibn Ali as well as the start of the crisis known as the Second Fitna.
Nizar Qabbani
Nizar Tawfiq Qabbani was a Syrian diplomat, poet, writer and publisher. His poetic style combines simplicity and elegance in exploring themes of love, eroticism, feminism, religion, and Arab nationalism. Qabbani is one of the most revered contemporary poets in the Arab world, and is considered to be Syria's National Poet.
Assala Nasri
Assala Mostafa Hatem Nasri, commonly known as Assala, is a Syrian musical artist. She is one of the most popular and famous Arab singers.
Ayman Zeidan
Ayman Zeidan is an award-winning Syrian TV presenter, comedian, voice actor and actor of film, television, and theater. Zeidan has starred in several notable television series and shows, and gained much success in sitcoms. Zeidan is also a regular theater actor. Additionally, Zeidan has had a few film and radio voice-over roles. Zeidan hosted the Abu Dhabi TV game show, Waznak Dahab, and helped popularize the show.
Soraya Tarzi
Soraya Tarzi, also known as Suraiya Shahzada Khanum, was the first Queen consort of Afghanistan in the early 20th century and the wife of King Amanullah Khan. Born in Syria, she was educated by her father, who was the Afghan leader and intellectual Sardar Mahmud Beg Tarzi. She belonged to the Mohammadzai Pashtun tribe, a sub-tribe of the Barakzai dynasty.
Muna Wassef
Muna Wassef is a Syrian stage, film and television actress. She was born on 1 February 1942, as Muna Mustafa Wassef Jelmran. She is also a United Nations Goodwill ambassador. Wassef is an icon in the Arab world and the Middle East. Wassef had become the highest-paid actress in the Arab World since the end of the 1970s until the year 2000; now she is one of the highest-paid actresses. Wassef is the first Syrian woman to receive the Syrian Order of Civil Merit-Excellent Degree in 2009.
Yusra Mardini
Yusra Mardini is a Syrian swimmer currently living in Hamburg, Germany. She was a member of the Refugee Olympic Athletes Team (ROT), that competed under the Olympic flag at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. On 27 April 2017, Mardini was appointed a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador.
Duraid Lahham
Duraid Lahham is a leading Syrian comedian and director born 1934 in Damascus, Syria. He is famous for acting the role of "Ghawwar" in a number of movies and series. His co-star throughout his career was Nihad Qali who played the role of "Husni".
Rasha Rizk
Rasha Rizk is a Syrian singer-songwriter. She is known for her work with the Syrian cartoon dubbing company, Venus Centre, and singing the Arabic theme songs for popular cartoons/animes such as: Remi, Nobody's Girl, Detective Conan and the Digimon Series.