News

Syria Rolls Out First National Tourism Discount Card

The Tamayouz program launches in early 2026, offering discounts of up to 50% as Damascus tests a new push for domestic travel.

Published

8 months ago

December 22, 2025

Nour Nasir

syria rolls out first national tourism discount card

Syria has introduced its first nationwide tourism discount card, a move aimed at jumpstarting domestic travel and tightening coordination with private-sector operators.

The “Tamayouz” card, announced by the Syrian Ministry of Tourism, promises discounts of up to 50% at more than 70 partner establishments in its initial rollout. The program is scheduled to go live in early 2026, covering hotels, resorts, chalets and travel agencies, with offers refreshed monthly.

Tourism Minister Mazen Al Salhani said the card is designed to formalize how discounts are issued across the sector, starting with domestic tourism. Access in the first phase will be limited to selected government employees, before expanding into a broader system that blends ministry-backed offers with private-sector deals.

“This card reflects our commitment to establishing a structured culture of tourism discount programs, which represents a key component of any modern tourism sector,” Al Salhani said.

The ministry is positioning Tamayouz as more than a pricing tool. Officials say the program will serve as a platform for deeper public–private cooperation, with a target of expanding the partner network to around 300 establishments by the end of 2026. Participating businesses will be required to apply approved discounts daily, including during official holidays.

A digital component is also planned. Alongside the physical card, a SmartApp — initially web-based — will provide an interactive map of participating venues, a points-based rewards system, and instant discount redemption via barcode or QR code. Technical support will be available to cardholders as the system rolls out.

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Al Salhani said the ministry also wants to draw established international discount programs into the Syrian market as part of a broader effort to align with global tourism practices. “We encourage leading global experiences to enter the Syrian market to spread this international culture,” he said.

For now, the focus remains inward. However, the structure of Tamayouz mirrors loyalty and discount platforms already common across the region, marking a tentative step toward standardizing offers and rebuilding tourism demand under tighter state oversight.

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.

Published

5 days ago

August 1, 2026

Nour Nasir

syria just got its first super app featuring built-in digital payments

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.

my syria super app launch event

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.