Media outlets have circulated the name of Al-Dababiya, a village in Akkar, as being the hometown of Lebanon’s oldest woman, Maymouna Al-Amin, born in 1890.  

 

Although the origin of the “Al-Dababiya” name is unknown, it seems that this village was a horse station, which resulted in the proliferation of “Zoubab” (flies). It was first called “Al-Zoubabiya” then “Al-Dababiya”.  

 

Al-Dababiya is located in the mohafaza of Akkar near the Syrian border at an altitude of 250 meters above sea level. It is 130 kilometers from Beirut and stretches across 420 hectares. Al-Dababiya may be reached through the following route: Tripoli - Halba - Kouachra - Al-Dababiya. 

 

According to the village’s personal status registers, Al-Dababiya’s population is estimated at 1,200 individuals, distributed over 120 houses. They are distributed among sects as follows:

 

Registered voters in Al-Dababiya total 710. They are distributed among the following families:

Sunni: 400 

Greek Orthodox: 140 

Durzi: 10

 

Maronite: 170

Al-Dababiya has a nine-member municipal council established by virtue of Resolution No. 157 of February 18, 2004, a mukhtar, and a three-member ikhtiyariah body. 

 

Al-Dababiya is home to Al-Dababiya Mixed Public School, which had 45 students and 6 teachers during the 2015-2016 academic year. 

 

Agriculture and military jobs are the main source of income in this village.  

 

The problem of unregistered land in Al-Dababiya has given rise to conflicts among villagers, the last of which was a judicial decision to remove the public park that was built on private property. The inhabitants prevented the security forces from carrying out the decision, yet the location of their village near the Syrian border made it vulnerable to shelling every now and then.