This article is about the capital of as-Suwayda Governorate in southern Syria. For the village in Hama Governorate, western Syria, see Al-Suwaydah, Masyaf.
The city is sometimes referred to as "Little Venezuela" due to the city's influx of affluent Venezuelan Syrian immigrants.[3] Many of them are descendants of Suwayda natives who emigrated to Venezuela in the nineteenth century; upon returning, they brought with them the Spanish language and elements of South American culture.[4][5][6]
The city was founded by the Nabataeans as Suada. It became known as Dionysias Soada (Ancient Greek: Διονῡσιάς) in the Hellenistic period and the Roman Empire, for the god Dionysus, patron of wine - the city is situated in a famous ancient wine-producing region.
The name Dionysias replaced the former Nabataean name in 149 AD after Nabataean influence decreased and then concentrated towards the south, as a result of the then accelerating Hellenization of Coele-Syria.
The agora of DionysiasThe arch of the lesser churchOrthodoxEaster celebrations in As-SuwaydaDruze and Christian clerics in Suwayda.Maqam Ain az-Zaman (Druze Shrine)
Dionysus was worshipped in the same Nabatean temple dedicated to Dushara. This practice of associating the worship of local and Hellenic gods was common in Hellenistic Syria.
In 1516, the city and the adjoining region was conquered from the Mamluk Sultanate by the Ottoman Empire. In 1596 Suwayda appeared under the name of Majdal Sawda in the Ottomantax registers as part of the nahiya (subdistrict) of Bani Nasiyya of the Hauran Sanjak. It had a population of 5 households and 5 bachelors, all Muslim. The villagers paid a fixed tax rate of 20% on various agricultural products, including wheat, barley, summer crops, goats and/or beehives, in addition to "occasional revenues"; a total of 6,125 akçe. 3/4 of the revenue went to a waqf.[10]
In recent times Dionysias was identified as Suwayda by William Waddington.
In the 19th century, visitors recorded the now-destroyed Tomb of Hamrath, an elaborate late Hellenistic mausoleum dating from the 1st century BCE.[11]
On 25 July 2018, the city was rocked by a string of terrorist attacks. A group of at least 56 ISIS-affiliated attackers entered the city and initiated a series of gunfights and suicide bombings killing 246 people, the vast majority of them civilians. Many of the terrorists were reported killed during the attack, bringing the total death toll to at least 302 people.[13] Forty-two Druze residents between the ages of 7 and 60 were kidnapped by ISIS and held captive. One was executed bringing the total in captivity to 41.[14]
Protests
On 7 June 2020, anti-government protests erupted in the city due to the deteriorating economic situation. Protesters demanded the resignation of President Bashar al-Assad for the first time since 2015.[15][16] As a result of the protests, Prime Minister Imad Khamis was sacked on 11 June and replaced by Hussein Arnous.[17]
In February 2022, hundreds of protesters took to the streets in Sweida to decry corruption and worsening living standards.[18]
In August 2023, thousands of protestors took to the streets to decry worsening economic conditions and demanding the departure of Syrian President Bashar al Assad.[19]
In July 2025, heavy fighting broke out between Druze and Bedouin in Suweida, killing dozens.[22] As of July 19, 2025 over 600 Druze were reported dead. The Syrian government deployed regular soldiers and Interior Ministry units there. According to Israeli officials, this was done to crack down on the Druze minority.[23]
The IDF attacked Syrian Armed Forces vehicles from the air and with URVs in order to prevent their arrival to the area. In a response, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz cited the need to protect the Druze religious minority due to their close ties to Israeli Druze as well as assuring the security of Israel's borders by preventing the deployment of weaponry and Syrian military forces in the area.[24]
Geography
Climate
Suwayda's climate is warm, dry and temperate, with no rainfall in the summer months.This location is classified as BSk by Köppen and Geiger. The average temperature is 15.5 °C. About 323 mm of precipitation falls annually.
Climate data for Suwayda, elevation 997 m (3,271 ft)
The Sunni Bedouins primarily reside on the northern and eastern outskirts of the city, in the areas of al-Maqwas, al-Haroubi, al-Mashoureb, Rajem az-Zaytoun, ad-Diyatha, and ash-Shaqrawiyah.
St. Timon Greek Orthodox Church (small church)[29]
Jesus the King (Capuchin Fathers) Melkite Greek Catholic Church[30][31]
Jesus Good Shepherd National Evangelical Christian Union Church[32]
Saints Constantine and Helena Greek Orthodox Shrine[33]
Grand Mosque
Omar ibn al-Khattab Mosque
Maqam Ain az-Zaman (Druze Shrine)
Maqam Sheikh Othman (Druze Shrine)
Archaeology
Diana discovered at bath by Actaeon; mosaic in Suwayda
Many archeological sites can be found in the old part of the city:
Temple of Dionysus-Dushara: eight well-decorated columns are still standing from the temple.
Saint Sergius Basilica: was built in the fifth century. It has Byzantine architectural elements, with an abbey surrounding it. The basilica was dedicated to Sergius.
The arch of the lesser church: the church itself is ruined. An arch is still standing there known locally as "The Gallows" (Arabic: المشنقةal-Mashnaqah) with grape motif decorations.
The theater: was recently discovered[when?], south of the Agora.
The city has many ancient reservoirs, towers and old Roman houses that are still inhabited by locals today.
Many parts of the old city still await excavation, such as the Roman aqueduct, a conical reservoir, and a larger Roman theatre. There is also an old 7th century mosque built during the time of the Rashidun Caliphate.
