Ash-Shaab Palace (Damascus)

Official residence of the Syrian head of state on Mount Mezzeh in Damascus, built in 1990, a landmark symbol of the Assad era.

The Ash-Shaab Palace – known as the Presidential Palace until 2024 – is the official residence of the Syrian head of state. It sits on Mount Mezzeh in western Damascus, adjacent to Mount Qasioun, and overlooks the entire city. The main building covers around 31,500 square metres, largely clad in Carrara marble, and is surrounded by an extensive security compound on the whole plateau. The palace embodies the power architecture of the Assad regime and, since Syria's political upheaval in late 2024, has become a prominent symbol of change in the public consciousness.