Syrian President Makes Historic Visa Payment as US Sanctions End
- Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa made the first international Visa card payment in Damascus, swiping a card on a point-of-sale device at a local café.
- The presidential payment was personally documented by Mohammad Safwat Raslan, Governor of the Central Bank of Syria, who captured the moment on video and shared it on his...
- The return of global payment networks to Syria follows years of strict international economic isolation.
Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa made the first international Visa card payment in Damascus, swiping a card on a point-of-sale device at a local café. According to reporting by Anadolu Ajansı, Euronews, and Sabq, the landmark financial transaction occurred just one day after the United States officially removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, marking the end of a 15-year sanctions era that began in 2011.
The presidential payment was personally documented by Mohammad Safwat Raslan, Governor of the Central Bank of Syria, who captured the moment on video and shared it on his X platform account.
A 15-Year Financial Isolation Ends
The return of global payment networks to Syria follows years of strict international economic isolation.
However, those early rollouts remained restricted. Compliance barriers prevented transactions in dollars and euros as long as Syria stayed on the U.S. terror list. Leila Sarhan, Vice President and Regional Manager for North Africa, Levant, and Pakistan at Visa, stated that the company sees strong long-term potential to build a modern digital payments ecosystem in Syria that aligns with global standards, according to Sabq.
Clearing the Final Obstacle for Banking Integration
Damascus officials and regional experts regarded Syria’s removal from the state sponsor of terrorism list as the final obstacle for international banks and financial institutions. Dawn and Euronews both confirmed the rescission of the U.S. terror designation, which opens the door for correspondent banking relationships, expatriate remittances, and official channels to finance national reconstruction.
Despite the integration of global networks, significant hurdles remain within the domestic economy. According to Sabq, between 80 and 90 percent of the Syrian population still operates outside the formal banking system due to weak public trust, a limited network of point-of-sale devices, fluctuating exchange rates, and persistent power and internet outages.
Regional Diplomacy and Cooperation
The financial opening builds on earlier diplomatic and banking engagements.
