Running Through History United in Heart
Marathon Damascus 2025 – Running Through History, United in Heart Marathon Damascus 2025 is the inaugural event of the Syrian Marathons series, a visionary initiative by two entrepreneurs, Architect Amer Rifai and Engineer Ala Al Din Meriden, created to celebrate Syria's cities through the universal language of sport. Launching in the heart of Damascus, this first edition aims to spotlight the city's cultural richness while uniting people through a shared commitment to endurance, peace, and pride.
Organizer
Kapitell AM is proud to organize Damascus Marathon 2025, an event that reflects our belief that building strong communities goes beyond construction. As a provider of high-performance materials and partner of Germany's Kapitell Chemicals, we support long-term development in Syria with quality, resilience, and vision. Rooted in decades of regional experience, Kapitell invests in infrastructure, culture, and people, because rebuilding isn't just about structures, it's about creating lasting connections.
Behind this initiative are the combined talents and dedication of its founders, in addition to a wonderful truly dedicated team:
Architect Amer Rifai
Founder and Managing Director, is the visionary behind this marathon, an initiative born from a belief in the power of movement to connect, inspire, and uplift communities. With years of leadership experience across international platforms, he brings a strategic and purposeful approach to everything he builds
Eng Ala Aldin Meriden
Cofounder and Race Director, brings eight years of global running experience to guide Syria's first international-standard race. He is the first Syrian male to complete all six Abbott World Marathon Majors and holds a Guinness World Record certificate for his participation in the Tokyo Marathon. He has completed over 13 full marathons and 12 half marathons. His vision for Damascus Marathon 2025 is to deliver Syria's first international-standard marathon—a race that celebrates the city's beauty, spirit, and unity through sport.
Eng Ala Aldin Meriden
Mr. Mutaa Estwani
Marketing and Sponsors Manager
Ms. Nour Al-Rashash
Public Relations Manager, a flagship event promoting civic engagement and social unity. Her commitment to public service is complemented by a solid background in project management across diverse sectors. She contributes to positioning the marathon as a platform for positive social impact and community empowerment.
Mr. Mazen Kalle
Finance & Budgeting, with a solid background in financial management, he handles the budgeting, expenses, and overall financial oversight of the event, ensuring transparency and sustainability throughout the marathon process.
Eng. Hadi Traboulsi
Structures & Logistics, A civil engineer with hands-on expertise in infrastructure and project execution, he oversees the structural planning and logistics of the Damascus Marathon to ensure a safe and efficient setup across all race areas.
Meet The Team