Syria Reintegrates Into Global Finance With First Visa Payments

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa performed the country's first international Visa card transaction at a coffee shop in Old Damascus on August 26, 2026. The event symbolizes Syria's reintegration into the global financial system after more than 15 years of isolation. Simultaneously, Mastercard and QNB Group processed the first international card payment in the country via QNB Syria.

These financial milestones follow a series of U.S. policy shifts. On August 24, the U.S. Treasury Department removed Syria from the list of state sponsors of terrorism, a designation it had held since 1979. President Donald Trump also repealed the Caesar Act, while the European Union removed its economic sanctions. Additionally, the U.S. removed al-Sharaa's organization, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, from the Specially Designated Global Terrorist list, though sanctions remain for officials linked to the former government of Bashar al-Assad.

Visa collaborated with the Central Bank of Syria, Fransabank, and Paymera to facilitate the live test. Syrian officials stated that while technical preparations began months ago, the removal of U.S. designations eliminated the final barriers to private sector investment and economic recovery. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that the decision reflects the new Syrian government's positive actions and commitments to distance itself from international terrorism.