QNB launches Syria’s first globally usable Mastercard
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai QNB Group, working with Mastercard, has issued what it describes as Syria’s first internationally accepted payment card, extending the country’s return to cross-border card services after years of isolation from global payment networks. The new card is intended to allow eligible customers in Syria to make payments locally and abroad wherever Mastercard is accepted,…
QNB Group, in collaboration with Mastercard, has launched Syria's first internationally usable payment card, marking Syria's return to cross-border card services following years of isolation from global payment networks. This card enables eligible Syrian customers to make payments locally and abroad wherever Mastercard is accepted, provided they comply with regulatory and compliance requirements.
The launch follows QNB and Mastercard's efforts to restore card acceptance and processing capabilities within Syria, with the Central Bank of Syria. Mastercard granted QNB a license in January to extend issuing and acquiring activities in Syria, paving the way for payment products usable both domestically and internationally. The bank processed an international Mastercard payment at an approved merchant in the summer, marking the first international card payment in Syria in over 15 years.
While earlier work focused on merchant acceptance, this new card provides customers with access to Mastercard's global acceptance network. The rollout is being conducted gradually, contingent on regulatory approvals and eligibility criteria. This move aims to reduce cash reliance, enhance payment transparency, and offer digital transactions that meet international security and operational standards.
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