Al-Rawda Café in Damascus: A Welcoming Gateway for Returnees and Commemorating Artist Khaled Taja
January 15, 2025, 9:57 am

Al-Rawda Café in Damascus: A Welcoming Gateway for Returnees and Commemorating Artist Khaled Taja

خالد تاجا

Al-Rawda Café, a historic landmark in the heart of Damascus, has transformed into a vibrant center welcoming Syrians returning to their homeland, featuring receptions characterized by traditional Damascene atmospheres, including music and folk dance. This event witnesses diverse participation from civilians, journalists, artists, intellectuals, and politicians, collectively expressing their welcome to the returnees.

In a special event held recently, Kurdish-Syrian artist Khaled Tajab was honored, known for his bold anti-regime stances and support for the Arab Spring revolutions. This initiative came as a tribute amidst the controversy surrounding his death in 2012, with speculations suggesting he died due to torture in Syrian security branches because of his political positions, although his family denied this, affirming that he passed away from lung cancer.

Celebratory events continue in Damascus, with political and human rights seminars and performances organized at this historic café, which is considered an integral part of the history of Damascene culture.

Established in 1937, Al-Rawda Café represents a cultural and social symbol in Damascus and serves as a primary gathering place for intellectuals and politicians, where they engage in discussions on national and cultural issues.

Khaled Tajab passed away at the age of 73 due to a terminal illness affecting his lungs. He distanced himself from art for 12 years, but these years didn’t deter him from returning with strength and a notable presence in Syrian drama, concluding an artistic journey that spanned nearly half a century, which ended with the return of illness more aggressively than before, leading to his death in April 2012.

Born in Damascus's Rukn al-Din neighborhood in 1939, Khaled Tajab grew up aspiring to achieve something significant in his life. At the age of ten, his ambition was to stand out from his peers and change his ordinary life, which led him to frequent the theaters of Damascus, profoundly influencing his artistic career later on.

Doubt and ambiguity still surround Tajab's death in Damascus due to illness, as Syrians believe that "Tajab" was eliminated in the hospital by regime loyalists due to his early public opposition statements, in addition to his participation in the Damascene intellectual movement in July 2012.

Call for Demonstration to Protect Evidence of Former Regime's Crimes in Syria International Coalition Targets Two Individuals, General Security Initiates Campaign in Qamhana, Hama

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.