Syria restores credit card payments in push to rejoin the global economy
Al Jazeera reports that Syria has restored credit card payments after years of sanctions and technical gaps. The move is seen as a tangible step toward reintegrating the country into the global financial system.
Al Jazeera reports that Syria has confirmed credit card payments are working again inside the country. Years of sanctions, banking-sector isolation and technical gaps had effectively made international card use impossible. The new arrangement reportedly restores access to Mastercard and Visa infrastructure for a set of banks.
Officials describe the step as an important signal for the country's economic restart. Syrian authorities say embedding the global payment system into the local economy will support foreign investment and cross-border e-commerce. Diaspora remittances into Syria are also expected to rise.
International experts say opening card infrastructure accelerates compliance pathways, but partial sanctions can still impose friction on currency flows and risk-customer screening. European and Gulf banks are reported to be preparing online meetings in the coming weeks on new partnership lines with Syrian counterparts.
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