Day 1.

Outside Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) for my early morning flight to Doha. I had flown into Al Maktoum Airport before, but this was my first time flying out.


My flights for the trip were on Qatar Airways (QR), flying to Iraq's Erbil International Airport via Doha (DWC-DOH-EBL), and the reverse for the return back to Dubai.


Below is the Syria map of control as of April 4th 2016, three days before my departure. After flying into Northern Iraq, I entered Northern Syria via the Semalka border crossing (A), and then travelled to Qamishli (B), Amuda (C), Tell Abyad (D), Kobanî (E), Sarrin (F), Tishrin Dam (G), Hasakah (H) and Shaddadah (I).


After checking in I went to the Marhaba lounge for an early morning snack and to wait for my flight to Doha. Although I had been to other unstable destinations before such as Afghanistan, Somalia, and Yemen, and despite planning and preparation to ensure that this trip was within a reasonable risk threshold, I still had some pre-trip nerves and fleeting second-thoughts as to whether it was safe to be travelling to Syria with the continuing civil war.

This apprehension was accompanied however by restrained excitement for the opportunity to see first hand the emerging Syrian automonous state of Rojava that had recently been declared, despite the many opposing forces that sought to undermine its existence.


On the tarmac at 5am, ready for boarding. I got a slight surprise when instead of the burgundy Qatar Airways (QR) logo, the A320 was covered in the green Al Maha Airways livery instead. After a quick Google I realised that Al Maha was actually a low-cost subsidiary of Qatar Airways with plans to fly in Saudi Arabia. It was still awaiting regulatory approval however, and hence its aircraft were being used on short Qatar Airways trips in the interim.


Chicken sandwich, cupcake and OJ served on the short hop to Doha.


Banking left over Al Khor before lining up for finals into Hamad International Airport (DOH).