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Since 1948, the Khalifeh family has been crafting exceptional instruments, producing high-quality ouds for a growing audience in Syria and around the world. Today, despite the challenges in Syria, the family continues this legacy under the new name Zeryab Ouds, offering a wide collection of ouds in different styles and price ranges. The vision of Zeryab is to combine traditional craftsmanship with modern innovation — blending unique ideas with advanced technology. While the craft has been passed down from fathers to sons, it is now the third generation of the Khalifeh family, working under the name Zeryab Ouds, that leads the way with a fresh spirit. Their mission is to honor and revive the oud-making tradition while delivering instruments of outstanding quality and performance. At Zeryab, wood is treated using a natural drying and seasoning process. Trees are cut during the winter months (between November and February), when the natural materials are at rest. The wood is split into panels and stored in open-sided warehouses, stacked in alternating layers with thin wooden spacers to ensure airflow, while being kept above ground and away from moisture. This natural process reduces humidity levels over a period of nearly 5 years, depending on the size and density of the wood. Before use, each piece is tested to ensure moisture levels remain between 9% and 12%, making it suitable for crafting professional musical instruments. The structural beauty of the wood depends on its cutting method. There are two main techniques: plain sawing and quarter sawing. With plain sawing, the wood reveals oval and curved patterns that enhance the natural beauty of timbers like cherry and walnut. With quarter sawing, the wood produces striped textures. Premium woods such as mahogany, cedar, and cypress acquire striking patterns and excellent tonal qualities when processed using the quarter-sawn method, making them perfect for handmade ouds and other musical instruments.