How Al Shamiya went from Syrian television backdrop to a landscape of rubble

Popular tourist destination is now in ruins but brings back memories of popular programmes

People walk among the rubble of damaged buildings in Shamiya village in Damascus. The village was built as a set for the production of a popular Syrian television series featuring houses, cafes, theatres, and museums. All Photos: EPA

An aerial photo shows the extent of damage to buildings in Shamiya village

Damaged buildings at Shamiya village in Damascus after fighting that saw opposition forces remove former president Bashar Al Assad

Al Shamiya village was built as a set for Syrian television series and featured houses, cafes, theaters, and museums. It was damaged during the Syrian civil war that began in 2011. EPA

Shows filmed in the village included the popular television series Bab Al-Hara (The Neighbourhood's Gate)

The village was damaged in a rebel offensive that resulted in the fall of the Assad regime

Al Shamiya is one of the most televised locations in Syria, even if most don’t know it by name. The striped walls and arched doorways of the village served as a backdrop for some of the most popular series to come out of the country, including Bab Al Hara.

The village on the road to Damascus International Airport was built with Syria's television industry in mind and is what comes to mind when many think of a traditional Damascene setting.

Al Shamiya was also a popular tourist destination. People flocked to the village to see where some of their favourite television series were set. The area housed several restaurants, an amusement park and a museum. It also featured a miniature version of the famous Al-Azm Palace in Damascus. Sadly, little of that glory remains today.

An aerial photograph shows damaged buildings at Al Shamiya village in Damascus. EPA

In the relative stability following the toppling of former president Bashar Al Assad, people have returned to find that the village is a landscape of debris. It is a microcosm of the destruction that Syria and its culture endured over the past decade. New pictures released by EPA show how the site’s alleyways and structures were pummeled to rubble during the war, which began in 2011.

It remains to be seen whether Al Shamiya will be rebuilt in the future and whether Syria will reprise its prestigious position as a powerhouse of regional television. For now, we take a look at five series that were filmed at Al Shamiya.

Bab Al Hara

Bab Al Hara was acclaimed particularly for depiction of 1920s Syria. Photo: MBC

Bab Al Hara became an instant hit when it was first shown during Ramadan in 2006. The series was compelling for its kaleidoscopic family dramas as well as its depiction of 1920s Syria, showing the country’s yearning for independence from French colonial rule.

The first five seasons of Bab Al Hara were filmed in Al Shamiya. The series stopped between 2011 and 2014, and was then renewed for a sixth season, which was filmed in the Damascus countryside. The series released its 13th season in 2022.

Ahl Al Raya

Released in Ramadan 2008, Ahl Al Raya was another popular historical series that shed light on Damascene life and culture. The series revolves around a trader whose wife dies in childbirth just as he becomes embroiled in a series of rivalries at the souk.

It ran for two seasons and featured several notable Syrian stars, including Kosai Khouli, Caresse Bashar and Jamal Suleiman.

Al Daboor

Hami Bakkar in a scene for Al Daboor, a gripping historical drama released in 2010. Photo: MBC

Al Daboor is a gripping historical drama that began in Ramadan 2010. It unfolds as a man returns to his home neighbourhood 15 years after being expelled, determined to clear his name and reclaim his rightful possessions.

The first season of the series was well received. The second, released in 2011, became a sensation as many tuned in following Bab Al Hara’s cancellation, eager for a Syrian historical drama.

Al Zaeem

Al Zaeem was one of the last performances by the legendary late Syrian actor Khaled Taja, bottom right. Photo: Apple TV

A social drama with a riveting power struggle at its core, Al Zaeem tells the story of the leader of a Syrian neighbourhood aiming to take over surrounding regions. The series, released in 2011, was one of the last performances by the legendary late Syrian actor Khaled Taja.

Al Khawali

Set in Ottoman-era Syria in the late 19th century, the series shares many of the traits with the others mentioned above, depicting nuances in Syrian society with a flair for the dramatic.

Al Khawali was important, particularly because it was released in 2000 and predates the surge in popularity of Syrian historical dramas. The series featured notable performances by several Syrian stars, including Abdul Rahman Al Rashi, Naji Jaber, Sabah Jazairi and Salim Kallas.