Damascus: TECHzMagazine – News Desk
In a major step toward Syria’s global economic reintegration, Visa successfully tested its first live international card transaction in Damascus. Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa completed the electronic restaurant payment in the presence of Central Bank Governor Mohammed Safwat Raslan. The milestone was achieved in partnership with the Central Bank, Fransabank Lebanon, and payment processor Paymera.
Leila Serhan, Visa’s Senior Vice President for the region, noted the test paves the way for international visitors to use their cards within legal frameworks. Governor Raslan and Paymera CEO Michel Kattouah both emphasized the transaction as a crucial modernization step for Syria’s financial infrastructure and broader digital transformation journey.
This development follows the US Treasury’s recent removal of Syria from its state sponsors of terrorism list, a designation held since 1979, which resolved major compliance barriers. The Visa transaction represents continued economic recovery under President al-Sharaa following the 2024 government transition, building upon Syria’s June 2025 readmission to the SWIFT network after a 14-year exclusion.
Advancing a strategic roadmap announced in December 2025, Visa’s long-term plans for Syria include introducing local payment cards and digital wallets. Utilizing EMV chip and tokenization technologies, these tools are aimed at empowering small businesses and supporting local entrepreneurs in the modern digital economy.
