In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

“And give good tidings to the patient — those who, when disaster strikes them, say, ‘Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we shall return.’ Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy, and it is they who are rightly guided.”

Allah the Almighty has spoken the truth.

The Board of Directors and members of the Union of Arab Chambers, along with the staff of the General Secretariat, mourn the passing of the Syrian businessman Saeb Nahas, who passed away on December 8, 2025, at the age of 88. Below is the condolence statement issued by the Secretary-General of the Union, Dr. Khaled Hanafy:

With deep sorrow and pain, we received the news of the passing of the late, God-willing forgiven, Syrian businessman Saeb Nahas, who died at the age of 88. He was a prominent economic figure who contributed to the founding of many tourism, agricultural, and commercial companies inside and outside Syria, in addition to representing a number of international brands. In recognition of his achievements, several European countries — including France, Germany and others — awarded him honorary decorations for his work and his continuous efforts to strengthen the connection between his homeland, Syria, and Western nations.

The passing of "Abu Sbeih" — the name by which I used to call him, owing to a close friendship that lasted many years — is a personal loss for me. He was known for his patriotism and his love for his city, Damascus, which he had to leave for medical treatment abroad, yet he never hesitated to visit it weekly to meet its people and merchants. He was also known for his fondness for Beirut, which served as our regular meeting point, where we frequently discussed Arab economic affairs and our constant desire for the advancement of our Arab nations.

His departure is not only a loss for Syria, to which he devoted so much for its progress and economic growth, but also for the wider Arab economic community. For decades, the late businessman held the dream of Arab revival and integration, and for that reason he invested heavily in many economic and social sectors across the Arab world.

On a personal level, I will deeply miss him — a difficult truth to express in words. I am proud and honored to have maintained continuous coordination and communication with him. He possessed a calm, rational character and an unfailing vision for development. Syria was always present in his soul, his heart, his mind, and his conscience.

Loss and parting are among life’s greatest trials, yet this is the decree of Allah, the Almighty. In this difficult moment, I can only pray to Allah to grant the deceased His mercy and forgiveness, and to bless his family and loved ones with patience and solace.

Indeed, we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we shall return.

Dr. Khaled Hanafy
Secretary General