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Binance Enters Syrian Market As Sanctions Lifted
The crypto exchange has granted full trading access to Syrian residents in a bid to promote financial inclusion and economic revival.
Global cryptocurrency giant Binance has officially entered the Syrian market, offering residents unrestricted access to its extensive suite of products and services after the recent lifting of international sanctions on the country.
Effective immediately, Syrian users can engage in spot and futures trading, access over 300 tokens and stablecoins — including Bitcoin, XRP, and Dogecoin — and utilize Binance Pay. This development positions Binance, currently the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, as a significant catalyst in Syria’s economic recovery efforts.
“For years, people in Syria have watched the crypto world evolve, unable to participate not by choice but by circumstance,” Binance noted in a statement. “Syrian residents can now securely participate in the digital asset economy,” the company stated.
Binance also stressed the role cryptocurrency can play in financial inclusion, combating inflation, facilitating cross-border remittances, and reconnecting Syrian businesses with global customers. CEO Richard Teng described the initiative as “opening futures and horizons … to build, invest and connect”.
Previously, global crypto exchanges, including Binance, restricted services in Syria in compliance with international sanctions. However, the political landscape shifted dramatically following the fall of Bashar Al Assad’s regime last December. Since then, the US and EU have gradually lifted economic restrictions, facilitating Syria’s reintegration into the global economy.
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This move comes amid a broader wave of positive developments for Syria’s economic recovery. Recent milestones include significant investments from Gulf countries, notably a $7 billion energy infrastructure deal backed by Qatar’s UCC Holding, an $800 million port agreement with UAE-based DP World, and a $6.5 billion aid commitment from international donors. Additionally, in May, the World Bank cleared Syria’s outstanding $15.5 million debt following payments from Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
Binance’s entry into Syria underscores cryptocurrency’s potential as a vital tool for economic revitalization, offering citizens an efficient and secure alternative to traditional financial systems weakened by prolonged conflict and isolation. As Binance opens its doors to Syrian residents, it marks a significant step toward reconnecting Syria with the global digital economy and fostering long-term financial stability.
News
Syria Just Got Its First Super App Featuring Built-In Digital Payments
Built by UAE-based Syrian founders with the Ministry of Tourism’s backing, My Syria lands as visitor numbers more than double.
For most of the past decade, paying for anything in Syria with an international card was effectively impossible. Sanctions, a collapsed banking sector, and years of isolation left the country running on cash. That is what makes the launch of My Syria — the country’s first super app — more than a routine product announcement.
Developed by 121 Living, a company founded by four UAE-based Syrian entrepreneurs — Rami Kaiem, Feras Kaiem, Waseem Qudmani, and Kinan Madi — the app launched in Damascus on July 30 under the patronage of Minister of Tourism Mazen Al-Salhani. It bundles hotels, restaurants, transport, attractions, food delivery, and other lifestyle services into a single platform, currently offering eight services with plans to expand to more than 40 verified tourism and hospitality providers across the country.
Although the app already sounds enticing, the headline feature is its built-in payments. My Syria is the first platform in Syria to support cross-border digital payments through Apple Pay, Google Pay, Visa, Mastercard, and American Express — familiar tools for international visitors, and a route into the digital economy for local businesses that have long operated outside it.

The launch rides on a sharp rebound for the troubled country. Syria’s tourism sector recorded 3.52 million visitor arrivals in the first half of 2026, a 111 percent increase over the 1.67 million during the same period in 2025 — a mix of returning expatriates, regional visitors, and international tourists.
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The Ministry of Tourism, which supported and supervised the app’s development, frames the launch as proof of concept for a wider strategy. “Digital transformation is one of the Ministry’s strategic priorities because it enables us to build a more competitive, connected and investment-ready tourism sector,” Al-Salhani said, inviting technology companies “globally, regionally and locally” to explore opportunities across the wider economy.
For 121 Living, this is phase one, with additional services and expanded geographic coverage planned. Whether a super app can flourish in a market still rebuilding its infrastructure is an open question, but for the first time in years, a visitor to Damascus can pay for dinner with their phone.
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