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Who is Latifa al-Daroubi, wife of Syria's Ahmed al-Sharaa?
A rare public appearance by Latifa al-Daroubi, the wife of Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, has drawn widespread attention this week after a video of the couple performing Umrah in Mecca circulated online.
The footage, widely shared on social media, captured al-Daroubi and al-Sharaa entering the Kaaba together - an unusual sight given the new first lady's typically low public profile.
In the video, the couple is seen dressed in Umrah garments, walking side by side inside Masjid al-Haram on Monday during the Syrian president's first foreign trip since taking office.
The appearance followed al-Daroubi's meeting with a delegation of Syrian women from the US last week, where al-Sharaa publicly introduced her and, for the first time, confirmed that she was his only spouse.
According to a participant in the meeting, the Syrian president dismissed rumours of multiple wives, stating that he "deeply loves" his wife.
Some attendees described the moment as adding a sense of humour and warmth to the gathering, which focused on the situation of the Syrian diaspora and the role of women in strengthening community ties.
Who is Latifa al-Daroubi?
While details about Latifa’s personal life remain limited, her emergence alongside the Syrian president has sparked curiosity both within Syria and internationally.
Latifa al-Daroubi, also known as Latifa al-Sharaa, was reportedly born in 1984, according to Arabic-language media.
She holds a master's degree in Arabic language and literature and is the mother of three sons.
Her family, the al-Daroubi clan, originates from Al-Qaryatayn in Homs, and her sister is said to be married to the current governor of Damascus, Maher Muhammad Marwan.
Though she has attended several public events in the past, she has rarely been photographed, which has only heightened interest in Syria's First Lady.
Her recent appearances, including the meeting with the Syrian women's delegation from the US and the Umrah pilgrimage, signal a growing public role for al-Daroubi.
Attendees of the US delegation meeting last week described Latifa as a "cultured, sophisticated, and elegant woman", praising her eloquence, calm demeanour, and traditional Syrian attire, following questions over whether she wears the niqab.
Abdul Hafiz Sharaf, a member of the Syrian-American Coalition for Peace and Prosperity, remarked in a media interview that Latifa was "a young Syrian woman who wears the hijab but [does not cover her face]. She dresses in the typical attire of hijabi women in Syria, and her presence intrigued many, especially with her gentle smile that warmly welcomed the attendees".
Reem al-Bazm, a Syrian activist who attended the delegation meeting, described her as "kind, calm, beautiful, confident, and educated".
She added that President al-Sharaa introduced her with the words: "My only wife, and I love her very much."
The al-Daroubi family is well known in Syria, having produced scholars and notable figures, including Sheikh Abdul Ghafar al-Daroubi, a renowned Quran reciter from Homs who passed away in Jeddah in 2009.
Al-Bazm also highlighted that al-Sharaa's introduction of his wife to the Syrian women's delegation reflected deeply rooted Syrian traditions, distinct from media portrayals of "submissive wives".
"Anyone who has lived in Syria knows that a woman is the pillar of her family - she plans, raises children, manages finances, and perseveres to achieve high academic degrees," she said, adding: "In Syria, men listen to their wives."