Syria Registers Over 1,800 New Companies in 2026 as Investment Climate Improves

Syria's Directorate of Corporate Affairs and Property Protection, under the Ministry of Economy and Industry, registered 1,846 new companies during the first months of 2026, according to a report published by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) on May 24, 2026, citing Director Abdulmajeed Abdo. The registered entities break down as follows: 1,349 limited liability companies (LLCs), 432 general partnerships, 38 limited partnerships, 24 closed private joint-stock companies, and three closed holding companies. Authorities attribute the increase to restored institutional capacity and proactive measures to streamline the registration process, including the reopening in July 2025 of the Directorate in a fully rehabilitated Damascus facility. On the digital front, authorities are developing an electronic incorporation system that will allow investors — both inside and outside Syria — to complete the registration process remotely, track applications step by step, and make payments through an integrated electronic gateway, reducing bureaucratic friction and processing times. The rise in company formations accompanies broader foreign investment momentum. Emaar founder Mohamed Alabbar has announced plans to invest up to USD 18 billion in Syria, while Saudi Arabia has unveiled a major investment package spanning energy, aviation, real estate, and telecoms, backed by a fund of 7.5 billion Saudi riyals (approximately USD 2 billion) earmarked for developing two airports in Aleppo. The legal foundation for investment remains Investment Law No. 18 of 2021, updated by Presidential Decree No. 114 of 2025, which designates the Syrian Investment Agency (SIA) as the primary one-stop shop for projects exceeding USD 1 million.