Billionaires Alone Receive Protection: The Story of Mohannad Al-Masri
April 16, 2025, 4:34 pm

Billionaires Alone Receive Protection: The Story of Mohannad Al-Masri

المليارديرات وحدهم يحصلون على الحماية: قصة مهند المصري

The Emirati authorities have released Syrian businessman Mohannad Fayez Al-Masri, Chairman of the Board of the "Damasco" Group, after six years of detention on charges of financing and managing terrorist activities in Syria.

This comes after a diplomatic mediation led by Syrian President Ahmad Al-Shara during his recent visit to the UAE, where Al-Masri returned to Damascus on the presidential plane.

Al-Masri's release raises several important questions about the reasons behind it: Is it due to his status as a billionaire, or is it because of his economic position as the head of the "Damasco" Group, which has been linked to activities related to money laundering for the former regime? Additionally, there are concerns about his connections with political and economic figures from the regime.

Activists believe that Al-Masri's release was based solely on a specific desire from transitional President Ahmad Al-Shara, as Al-Masri was a key supporter of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham at that time.

On the other hand, some have questioned the fate of hundreds of Syrian detainees in Lebanese prisons and other countries who are waiting for their release, especially since they do not have the " resumes" that would make them prime subjects for the media affiliated with the current regime!

It is worth noting that Al-Masri has not publicly taken significant political positions against the previous regime, having previously honored the Syrian national team loyal to the Assad regime. He has also expressed support for the Turkish initiative (the safe zone in northern Syria), considering it an opportunity to activate developmental projects to achieve self-sufficiency.

Al-Masri is active in northern Syria, and he is the founder and manager of Damasco Company, which operates in the fields of tenders, supplies, and contracts within previously liberated areas.

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”