Al-Midan

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title: "Al-Midan" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["neighborhoods-of-damascus"] topic_path: "general/neighborhoods-of-damascus" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Midan" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

FieldValue
name
native_nameالميدان
native_name_langar
settlement_typeMunicipality
image_skylineMidan Souk - Jezmatieh Street.jpg
image_altMidan Souk - Jezmatieh Street
image_captionMidan Souk - Jezmatieh Street
image_mapDistricts of damascus english.svg
map_altAl-Mydan on the District map of Damaskus
subdivision_typeCountry
subdivision_nameFlag of the Syrian revolution.svg Syria
subdivision_type1Governorate
subdivision_name1Damascus Governorate
subdivision_type2City
subdivision_name2Damascus
unit_prefMetric
area_urban_footnotes--
area_rural_footnotes--
area_metro_footnotes--
area_magnitude--
area_blank2_title
area_blank2_km2
area_blank2_ha
dunam_link
population_total177,456
population_as_of2004
population_density_km2auto
timezoneEET
utc_offset+2
timezone_DSTEEST
utc_offset_DST+3
blank_nameClimate
blank_infoBSk
website
::

::callout[type=note] the neighbourhood of Damascus ::

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::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/52/Midan_-_Jezmatieh_Street.jpg" caption="Al-Midan, Jezmatieh Street"] ::

Al-Midan () is a neighbourhood and municipality in Damascus, Syria, south of the old walled city and near the modern city centre. In the 2004 census, it had a population of 177,456. Today, the neighbourhood is often considered to be one of the most conservative in Damascus.

Etymology

The name Midan is derived from Midan Al Hassa () or the field of gravel. The neighbourhood was located between two sub Barada streams and when it rained heavily, the land gravel deposits filled the streams and consequently, the neighbourhood.

History

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6a/Midan,_Damascus,_1929.jpg" caption="Al-Midan neighborhood in 1929"] ::

Al-Midan started during the Mamluk rule over Damascus. It took its final form about 400 years ago during the Ottoman empire and has not experienced any major changes since. It is considered the Southern Gate of Damascus and was created as a trading center by the people of Damascus for them to be closer to the people of the Hauran and to improve trade and economic relations between them.

During the French occupation, the people of Midan revolted aggressively against the French and thus suffered heavy bombing during the Great Syrian Revolt of 1925–1927. Their actions were driven in part by the extensive commercial links connecting the grain merchants of the neighborhood with Druze notables in the Hawran, among whom the revolt had begun.

Michel Aflaq and Salah al-Din al-Bitar, the founders of the Ba'th Party, were both born in the Midan as sons of grain merchants.

The neighborhood was and still is (compared to other neighbourhoods in Damascus) very conservative. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d5/Traditional_Midani_Sweet_Shop.jpg" caption="Traditional Midani Sweet Shop"] ::

Some of the sweets for which Midan is famous for include baklava, barazek, kanafeh, namorah, and awameh.

Districts

  • Bab Musalla (pop. 11,330)

  • Daqaq (pop. 10,858)

  • Al-Haqleh (pop. 8,076)

  • Al-Qa'a (pop. 11,791)

  • Midan al-Wastani (pop. 23,745)

  • Al-Tadamon (pop. 86,793)

  • Az-Zahreh (pop. 24,863)

Notable historic figures

References

Bibliography

References

  2. Michael Provence. (2005). "The Great Syrian Revolt and the Rise of Arab Nationalism". University of Texas Press Austin.
  3. "Discover Syria".
  4. "Syrian History photos".
  5. Provence, Michael. (2005). "The Great Syrian Revolt and the Rise of Arab Nationalism". University of Texas Press.
  6. (30 April 2020). "Al-Midan neighborhood in Damascus". [[Syrian Arab News Agency]].
  7. (2015-03-16). "Syrian Arab Republic Damascus Governorate Reference map". United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

neighborhoods-of-damascus