Anbar Office

Maktab Anbar, A Cultural Landmark in Damascus

Maktab Anbar is a historic monument situated in the al-Mankaneh quarter of Old Damascus, east of the Umayyad Mosque and just a short distance from the Straight Street. It is considered the largest traditional residence in the old city. Designed and built in the mid-nineteenth century by Yusuf Effendi Anbar, the structure is a remarkable example of Damascene architecture, meticulously crafted with precision and beauty. Rectangular in layout, it spans 5,000 square meters and is divided into three separate wings, each with its own courtyard surrounded by rooms. Altogether, the house comprises 40 rooms spread over two floors.

The Ottoman authorities later confiscated the property, converting it into a boys’ school, hence the name Maktab (office or school). It remains one of the finest and best-preserved historic homes in Damascus, untouched by the effects of nature or modern alteration. A distinguished architectural and educational landmark, it played a pivotal role in Syria’s cultural and intellectual renaissance, graduating many of the leading public figures in both Damascus and Beirut.

Today, the building serves as the headquarters of the Committee for the Protection of Old Damascus. The surrounding district was named after it in recognition of its importance. The site was also featured in the documentary film Maktab Anbar, released as part of the “Imprint of Place” series in celebration of Damascus’s designation as Arab Capital of Culture.