The Daouk Family

Daouk (آل داعوق)

Current region	Ras Beirut, Lebanon
Place of origin	Marrakesh, Morocco
Members	1000 members
Connected families	Kadi Family, Itani Family, Sinno Family

The Daouk Family (آل داعوق in Arabic), originally Moroccan (Daaqa دعق , meaning "to induce"),^[1] also transliterated as

Omar Beik Daouk during his leadership throughout the Ottoman Era.

(Daouk, Al Daouk and Daooq) is a prominent Beiruti family that stemmed in Ras Beirut, Lebanon during the 15th century; after fleeing Marrakesh, Morocco.^[1] This was due to the heavy influx of Arab refugees coming from the Iberian Peninsula to the Maghrib and the Levant following the fall of Al-Andalus to the Catholic Monarchs.

Introduction

Prime Minister Ahmad Daouk during his second mandate.

Omar Daouk Square, Downtown Beirut

The Daouk Family is known as one of the 'Seven Families of Beirut' along the other six families; the Mneimneh Family, the Sinno Family, the Kreidiyyeh Family, the Itani Family, the Doughan Family and the Houry Family.^[2] The Daouk Family members mostly reside in Ras Beirut and other districts within the Lebanese Capital. Other smaller communities of the Daouk Family may also reside in California, Marrakesh and Syrian cities such as Damascus and Hama. The majority of the Daouk Family adhere to either the Sunni faith of Islam or Christianity.

Current

As of today, the Daouk Family is mostly known for the Izzat Daouk franchise and Mohammad Amin Daouk who is the President of Nejmeh SC, one of the oldest and most successful Lebanese football clubs.^[3] Other influential members include Walid Daouk who was the Information Minister of Lebanon in 2011 and Amine Mohammad Daouk, the president of the Makassed Organization.^[4][5]

The social status of the family has been prominent throughout the past two centuries especially in Lebanese governance and politics. The most two notable members of the Daouk Family are Omar Beik Daouk and Ahmad Daouk. Omar served as the first Head of State of Beirut throughout the Ottoman Era; he is possibly regarded as one of the fathers of the Lebanese Constitution that shaped the current Republic of Lebanon. Ahmad Daouk was the Prime Minister of Lebanon in 1941 and 1960; he was also Minister of National Defense in his own cabinet.^[6] During his period as Prime Minister, Lebanon enjoyed very close relationships and alliances with the United States and France.

The Daouk Family's top members currently run an annual event by where all members of the extensive family meet each other and get to come closer to one another. Such events are regularly hosted in Beirut's Movenpick Hotel. The Lebanese sweet 'Daoukieh' was named after the Daouk Family due to its creator who was a member of the family.

May Daouk currently owns one of Beirut's mostly beautiful and rare villas. Its uniqueness comes from the fact that the villa is a blend of traditional Beiruti-Lebanese architecture with a hint of a modern touch of May's choice. Her interior design has also been outstanding and paramount to other models of interior design in Lebanon. The villa has been featured on many websites and social media networks such as Pinterest and Architectural Digest.^[7][8]

Legacy

The legacy of the Daouk Family is one that is noteworthy, to the extent that two streets in the Beirut Central District are named after them.^[9] Omar Daouk Street is situated at the heart of the Lebanese Capital minutes away from Downtown Beirut (Coordinates: 33°53'55"N 35°29'53"E.)^[10] The street consists of two parallel roads, with residential and commercial buildings in between the roads that merge at the Omar Daouk Square. "The Omar Daouk Square was designed by Mohammad Halawi around a bust by Maguerditch Mazmanian of Omar Daouk himself. With the aim of upgrading the square from a green island into a space connected to the surroundings, the new design of the Omar Daouk Square enlarges its size, introduces three terraces to soften the site incline, and creates an attractive open area where one can sit and rest."^[11] Ahmad Daouk Street (Coordinates: 33°54'3.61"N35°30'0.00" E) is perpendicular to Bab Idriss, which is connected to Omar Daouk Street. The street is two blocks from the Lebanese parliament and consists of a double-way two lane road connecting Beirut's Corniche Road to the Beirut Central District.^[12]

The Daouk Family resided in one of Beirut's most cultural and aristocratic villas, The Rose House in Ras Beirut. Alongside the Adrati Family, the Daouk Family preserved the Beirut landmark that was built in 1882 having settled in the villa for nearly three decades. Today it is currently owned by Hisham Jaroudi.

Notable Members of the Daouk Family

Ahmad Daouk: Prime Minister of Lebanon in 1941 and 1960; he was also Minister of National Defense in his own cabinet.

Amine Mohammad Daouk: Lebanese engineer that graduated from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is the president of the Makassed Philanthropic Islamic Association of Beirut.^[13]

Ghaleb Daouk: Lebanese doctor that graduated from Massachusetts Institute of Technology who currently works in the Harvard Medical School.^[14]

Izzat Daouk: Founder of the Izzat Daouk Franchise, he is the first Lebanese businessman to internationally commercialize cosmetics and beauty care from Lebanon.

Khaled Daouk: Irish-Lebanese businessman. He is the president of the Lebanese Canadian Business Association and vice-president of the Arab Irish Chamber of Commerce.^[15]

Maher Daouk: Lebanese businessman and member of Solidere board of directors since May 1994.^[16]

May Daouk: Lebanese architect notable for her works on May Daouk's Beirut Villas. She is a graduate of Institut Le Rosey.

Mohammad Amin Daouk: Lebanese businessman and current President of Nejmeh SC, one of the oldest and most successful Lebanese football clubs in the Lebanese Premiere League.^[17]

Walid Daouk: Former Information Minister of Lebanon in 2011 and a businessman.

References