Umayyad Square ساحة الأمويين
Square
Umayyad Square,Damascus
Features	Damascene Sword monument Damascus Opera House Ministry of Defense (Syria) Syrian Armed Forces headquarters
Amenities	National Library of Syria Syrian Television building Sheraton Damascus Hotel
Location	Damascus,Syria
Umayyad Square Location inDamascus,Syria
Coordinates:33°30′50″N36°16′35″E / 33.51389°N 36.27639°E /33.51389; 36.27639

Umayyad Square (Arabic:ساحة الأمويين /ALA-LC:sāḥat al-Umawiyīn) is a large and important square inDamascus,Syria. It connects the city center with several important highways and areas, and contains important buildings, including theMinistry of Defense, Syria's nationalOpera House and the headquarters of theSyrian Armed Forces.

The Damascene Sword monument, widely considered as the symbol of the city, stands in the square, and is considered a symbol and reminder "of the victories, strength and achievements of the Syrian people".^[1] The name of the square is a reference to theUmayyads who took Damascus as the capital of theircaliphate in the 7th century.

Prior to the opening of the new 1.2 million sqm fairground to house theDamascus International Fair, the fair which was held annually since 1954 (before being cancelled in 2012 and reopening in 2017) was held in the square.^[2]

The Umayyad square is connected with seven of the city's most important streets and highways:

• Beirut Street, which connects Damascus to the capital ofLebanon,Beirut
• Jawaharlal Nehru street, named afterJawaharlal Nehru, former prime minister ofIndia
• Adnan al-Malki street, named afterAdnan al-Malki, aSyrian Army officer and major 20th century political figure
• Mehdi Ben Barka street, named afterMehdi Ben Barka, aMoroccan politician
• Shukri al-Quwatli street, one of the city's most important streets, named afterShukri al-Quwatli, first president of an independent Syria
• Abu Bakr street, named afterRashidun caliphAbu Bakr
• Fayez Mansour street, named after Syrian Colonel Fayez Mansour whoaced 14 victories against theIsraeli Air Force

• Damascus Opera House complex, which includes theHigher Institute of Dramatic Arts.
• National Library of Syria. Malki Street^[3]
• Syrian Television building.
• theHay'at al-Arkan, theSyrian Armed ForcesGeneral staffheadquarters.
• Ministry of Defense.
• Sheraton Damascus Hotel.

• Media related toUmayyad Square at Wikimedia Commons

• Squares in Damascus

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• Short description matches Wikidata
• Coordinates on Wikidata
• Articles containing Arabic-language text
• Commons category link from Wikidata