Success of First External Payment Using Syrian Bank Card

Rifat Rastan, Governor of the Central Bank of Syria, announced the execution of the first purchase outside Syria using a Mastercard issued by a Syrian bank, marking a new step toward reconnecting the Syrian banking sector with the global payments network.

In a post on LinkedIn, Rastan stated that he carried out the transaction at Dubai International Airport, adding, “To many, this may seem like an ordinary payment, but for Syrians it means a great deal: a Syrian card working today in the world.”

Rastan thanked the team at the Central Bank of Syria, Syrian banks, and partners who worked to reach this milestone, describing the step as “new on the path of Syria’s return to the global financial system.”

The transaction follows steps taken by Syria in recent months to regain access to international payment services. In May, Mastercard announced the completion of its readiness to process international card transactions within Syria for the first time in over 15 years.

At the time, the Central Bank of Syria stated that the connection with the Mastercard network aims to support the development of the national payment system, enhance financial inclusion, and provide more efficient channels for transactions.