Damascus International Airport — Damascus, Syria

holger (germany) - July 21, 2010
hello@all
like to visit damascus next week.
is there a transport by local bus or train to down town?
thanks

Andrew - March 15, 2010
Damascus airport used to be quite an experience and a venture until early 2010. More recently, a service initiative was launched and it brought at least some improvements for passengers:
- you can expect price tags on many goods throughout the airport's duty free area. Previously only the 2nd floor international standard type duty free shop offered such amenities.
- the airport has become cleaner in general
- a no smoking area has been designated (don't expect people to use it though)
- many announcements are now also available in English (Feb 2010 improvement)

However the public conveniences still aren't up to anything close to international standards. For some goods such as mobile recharge cards, shops are asking for higher prices than anywhere else in Syria, although they must be sold at a specific rate. The immigration procedure isn't explained anywhere, and I managed to enter the country more than 10 times in 2010 without filling in the arrival or departure form at all. Also, the queueing system for 'Syrian nationals', 'Arab nationals', 'other nationalities', 'VIP', 'tourist groups' and 'diplomats' is largely regarded as an indication only. However, if you are not a Syrian passport holder, don't dare standing in one of the rows which is designed for Syrians only - it will cost you lots of time because they don't have a visa stamp and must send you elsewhere.

While the check-in staff usually is bilingual Ar/En and the immigration officers can communicate somewhat, the rest of the staff mostly isn't able to speak any foreign language.

Talking about check-in, the main door towards the departures area has been blocked for the past 9 months minimum, and you will have to go some 50metres further up towards the arrivals in order to get in. Once inside your ticket and passport will be checked before you are allowed to go to x-ray and security. You are NOT supposed to go to this (visibly & constantly bored) security person unless your flight is shown on the screen above the entrance to security.

After all this, some praise. The signboards are strictly bilingual and the taxi service is efficient yet expensive for Damascene standards. If you take one of the official taxis which look pretty modern, buy a voucher first. Insist on this voucher as a written receipt. You normally get it once you have arrived and passed all checkpoints. Walking along the catwalk, you will already see the rent a car counter which has the taxi voucher counter right next to it. Sometimes they also sell the vouchers outside the building, to the right once you leave the airport.