The Bawabet Dimashq (Arabic: بوابة دمشق‎) (Damascus Gate), the largest restaurant in the world, is a family owned restaurant in Damascus, Syria, that opened in 2002. The structure cost $40 million to construct and is owned by Shaker al Samman. The restaurant has a 54,000 sq-m dining area, 2,500 sq-m kitchen, can serve 6,014 people, and during peak operation, 1,800 staff are employed. The restaurant has features such as waterfalls, fountains and replicas of archaeological ruins of Syria, and six culinary themed sections for Indian, Chinese, Arab, Iranian, Middle Eastern and Syrian Cuisine.