Syria Processes First Visa and Mastercard Transactions After 15-Year Isolation

Syria completed its first international payment card transactions on 9 May 2026, when Visa and Mastercard payments were successfully processed for the first time in over 15 years. A special ceremony was held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Damascus to mark the occasion. The development follows a series of steps in Syria's broader financial reconnection. The Central Bank of Syria reopened its account with the U.S. Federal Reserve in March 2026—its first active account since 2011—and signed bilateral agreements with the central banks of Germany, France, and Austria in April 2026. These steps were enabled after the United States revoked its comprehensive trade embargo on Syria in June 2025, and the European Union lifted most of its economic restrictions in May 2025. The Central Bank's 2026–2030 monetary strategy identifies international financial integration as one of five core pillars, alongside sustainable monetary stability, exchange market transparency, a sound banking system, and digital payments development. For businesses and investors, the resumption of card payment infrastructure represents a practical step toward normalising commercial transactions and cross-border financial flows in Syria. Companies planning to operate in or trade with Syria should monitor ongoing developments in correspondent banking relationships and SWIFT access, both of which continue to expand.