{
  "id": 3704249,
  "title": "Syria now offers international card payments as financial system reconnects",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/syria-now-offers-international-card-payments-as-financial-system",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-08-27T08:23:20.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/business/banking/syria-now-offers-international-card-payments-as-financial-system-reconnects-1.500653895"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Syria has conducted a live test of international card payments, potentially allowing foreign visitors to use Visa cards in the country and signaling progress in reconnecting with the global financial system. The test, carried out in collaboration with Fransabank Lebanon and Paymera, marks a significant step in the country's efforts to integrate its payments ecosystem with international systems. Visa's Senior Vice President and Group Country Manager for the North Africa, Levant and Pakistan region, Leila Serhan, stated that the successful transaction is the beginning of expanding digital payment capabilities in Syria and providing international visitors with a familiar, secure, and convenient payment method. The announcement does not confirm that all Visa cards are already accepted across Syria, but rather signifies the successful test and plans for enabling international Visa card use. Syrian Central Bank Governor Mohammed Safwat Raslan emphasized that modernizing the country's payment ecosystem and increasing its integration with international payment systems is crucial for upgrading the financial infrastructure. Paymera CEO Michel Kattouah expressed delight at the return of international card acceptance as part of Syria's digital transformation. Visa's roadmap for Syria includes enabling payment cards, digital wallets, and supporting merchants through its Visa Acceptance Platform, with tools like lower-cost payment options and Tap to Phone. The Visa test follows Syria's authorization of banks to work with Visa and Mastercard in May, and the US removing Syria from its state sponsors of terrorism list, which had been a major concern for financial institutions.",
  "summary": "Damascus: Visa has tested its first live international card transaction in Syria , in a move that could pave the way for international visitors to use Visa cards in the country and marks a significant step in Syria’s efforts to reconnect with the global financial system. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances The payments company conducted the test in cooperation with…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}