CNA938 Rewind - A Letter to Myself: Leaving Syria, Abdulhadi Al Saadi found a recipe for a new life in Singapore

As civil war was escalating in his native Syria, Abdulhadi Al Saadi's family decided to leave. Hadi was only in his mid-teens then, and would spend the next three years moving between three different countries to rebuild their lives. A chance encounter with a special customer brought him to Singapore, where he opened a Syrian shawarma eatery in 2023. Damascus Delights has since grown in popularity in its Tampines neighbourhood and beyond. Hadi, now in his late-twenties and married with a growing family, reflects on his journey and the deep lessons it's taught him about love and resilience.