Syria, Everyday: The Arab Culture You Don’t See On The News

For many people, Arabs only appear in their feeds during wars or political crises. Entire countries become synonymous with conflict, when they are also home to millions of ordinary lives. I am of the belief that people deserve to be seen as more than the worst thing happening to them.

My name is Yamine, an artist and photographer living in London; born and raised in England to Syrian parents. I have just returned from visiting one of my beautiful homelands, Syria, and felt it was important to document everyday life there – to give an authentic representation of Arab culture. I wanted to inspire others to see and acknowledge the humanity of people living through suffering. 

Countries experiencing war and the people who inhabit them are still extremely beautiful and deserving of love. People still laugh, celebrate birthdays, make coffee, create art, raise families, dance, study, pray and dream about the future. I hope that by sharing photographs of everyday life – ordinary moments, food, traditions, families – it will remind us of our shared humanity and the fact we all deserve to be seen. 

Left: My auntie, Enam Daaboul, reading the Quran on her home balcony in Latakia with the sweet scent of Jasmine from the tree behind her filling the air.  

Right: This was my first time visiting Syria since the fall of the Assad regime [in 2024]. I loved noticing how the Syrian independence flag is proudly displayed, as seen here in this taxi driver’s car. 

One of my youngest cousins, Ahmed Daaboul, experiencing the joy of eating chocolate cake.

Right: Sharing a classic Levantine breakfast with my family, surrounded by familiar dishes such as falafel, fatteh, eggs and fresh vegetables – a simple moment of food, family and cultural tradition.

Left: I was visiting the beautiful coastal region and came across some children playing in the sea. They were excited and curious to see an analogue camera and asked me to take their photograph. This is Layal, from Idlib.  

Right: Cats are a familiar part of everyday life in Syria, where many sadly live as strays. My family and I helped feed many of them every day. This photograph evokes a warm feeling in my heart, one of familiarity and home. 

On a day trip from Latakia to the Syrian mountains of Kesab, I captured the many cups of tea my large group of family shared as we enjoyed each other’s company – a simple moment of warmth and togetherness after several years spent apart. 

The beautiful Damascene architecture captured from my hotel room at Beit Zafran in Damascus. This photograph is particularly poignant for me, as it captures the peaceful feeling of pride and joy I experienced, staying somewhere alone in Syria for the first time.

Right: While exploring the streets of Latakia, my late parents’ home city, I came across this poetic scene of a plastic chair enjoying nature. The plastic chair is a familiar symbol throughout the Arab world and beyond, one that transcends social and economic differences, bringing people together without pretension or elitism.

On our road trip to the Syrian mountains, my family and I stopped by a family-run business (میریتا تنور – Tannour Mireeta) in a rural area who made some manakish (traditional Syrian baked flatbreads).

Left: One day, as I was walking back from the city centre of Latakia, I came across a sheikh sitting outside. After speaking with him for a short time, I found out he is 92 years old.

Right: Ma'amoul bil jibn (cheese maamoul) is a famous dessert from the coastal Syrian city of Latakia – my parents’ home.