Four Seasons Hotel Damascus

The Four Seasons Hotel Damascus (Arabic: فُنْدُق فَوْر سِيزُون دِمَشْق, romanized: Funduq Fawr Sīzūn Dimašq) is a 297-room five-star hotel^[2] and was part of the Toronto-based Four Seasons luxury hotels and resorts from 2005 to June 19, 2019. It is located in the central district neighborhood of Damascus, Syria, near the Barada River, on Shukri Al Quatli Street.^[3]

Four Seasons Hotel Damascus
فُنْدُق فَوْر سِيزُون دِمَشْق
Four Seasons Hotel Damascus, 2008
Location within Damascus
General information
Location	Damascus, Syria
Coordinates	33°30′50″N 36°17′28″E
Groundbreaking	2001
Opening	2005
Owner	Samer Foz Syrian Ministry of Tourism
Height	82.54 meters[1]
Technical details
Floor count	23
Design and construction
Architect(s)	Dar Al-Handasah (Shair and Partners)
Main contractor	Fouad Takla
Other information
Number of rooms	297
Number of suites	66

History

The hotel was financed by Saudi prince Al-Waleed bin Talal and was constructed by the local Fouad Takla Company. It opened on December 1, 2005.^[4] Al-Waleed later sold his stake in the hotel to Syrian businessman Samer Foz. The Syrian government is the second largest stakeholder in the hotel.^[5][6]

Four Seasons Hotels severed its management contract with the property effective June 19, 2019, due to US sanctions on Foz. The US government accused Foz of war-profiteering and doing business with the Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad.^[7]

The United Nations and several of its agencies used the hotel, which had the best security rating by UN's standards in Damascus, for their principal residences and offices during the civil war. In 2021, the United Nations spent $11.5 million at the hotel.^[8]

As of 2023, the hotel continues to operate using the Four Seasons name and logo, though it is no longer recognized as part of the chain.^[7]

Gallery

• 
  The hotel viewed from a distance
• 
  The Barada River near the hotel