Aden vs Damascus

Aden leads Damascus by 1 points on the CIRA Index, 27 to 26. Aden grades better on 3 measures, Damascus on 5; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: Aden 27, Damascus 26
• OECD: Aden 25, Damascus 28
• UN Tourism: Aden 31, Damascus 36
• UNDRR: Aden 12, Damascus 22

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Aden –, Damascus 50
• Economy and jobs: Aden 13, Damascus 13
• Climate and hazards: Aden 25, Damascus 20
• Water and environment: Aden 44, Damascus 42
• Community and housing: Aden –, Damascus 0
• Access and continuity: Aden 8, Damascus 21

Where Aden is stronger

• Wildfire and storm hazard: very low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 4/4.
• Water scarcity: medium (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 2/4.
• Wastewater safely treated: 52.4 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (country figure) (UN-Habitat & WHO via UN SDG Country Profiles (Indicator 6.3.1), 2024). Between 50 and 70: grade 1/4.

Where Damascus is stronger

• Tropical nights: 74.4 nights a year with a minimum at or above 20°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). Between 60 and 100: grade 1/4.
• Flood hazard: medium (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 2/4.
• Early warning and emergency plan: A national system only; no city plan found (ReliefWeb / United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), September 2026). Grade 1/4.
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: Crisis communication only, ad hoc (Arabian Business / Al Arabiya English, 2026). Grade 1/4.
• Dedicated tourism funding: A promotion budget that depends each year on the general budget (Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), 2026). Grade 1/4.

Aden in full · Damascus in full

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