Recently, the way business is done in Syria has changed a lot. Investment Law No. 18 of 2021 set the stage, but a series of big changes in 2025 (specifically Decree 114) changed the rules of the game completely.
The goal of these laws is simple: to make it easier, safer and more profitable for both local and foreign people to start projects that help the country rebuild.
The Biggest Change: 100% Foreign Ownership
In the past, many countries in the area required foreign investors to work with a local partner. This has changed because of the new reforms in 2025.
No Need for a Local Partner
Foreigners can now own 100% of their project in most fields, such as technology, health and renewable energy.
Why This Is Important?
It gives international companies complete control over their operations and decisions, which used to be a big problem that kept global capital from coming in.
Better Protections
One of the main goals of the new law is to make investors feel safe. The government has put in place a number of guarantees to make sure that the legal system, not just government whims, protects your money and property.
No Surprise Seizures
The Ministry of Finance can’t just freeze or take a project’s assets anymore. A court order is the only thing that can do that.
Protection From Nationalisation
The law says that the state can’t take over projects unless it’s for “public benefit,” and even then, the owner must be paid the fair market price right away.
Rules That Don’t Change
Once you get your licence, the rules of the game can’t change in the middle of the game. This regulatory stability is very important for making plans for the long term.
Financial Freedom And Profit Transfer
Getting money out is a common worry for investors from other countries. The new law is very clear about how capital can move.
- Profit Repatriation: Investors can now legally send their profits and original capital back to their home country in convertible foreign currency.
- Access to Banks: Local banks will let both Syrian and foreign investors open bank accounts and get credit in either Syrian Pounds or foreign currencies.
Massive Tax And Customs Incentives
The law lets you take tax holidays to help certain areas grow. During these times, you pay little or no tax. Below is a breakdown of the main tax holidays:
- Agriculture: 100% permanent exemption from income tax
- Health & Medicine: Full exemptions often apply to support local healthcare.
- Development Areas: 75% reduction in income tax for the first 10 years.
- Industry (Renewables): 50% to 75% reduction depending on the specific tech used.
The law also lets you bring in machinery, assembly lines and other tools for your project without having to pay any customs duties or tariffs. This makes the startup cost for farms and factories much lower.
The Single Window Effectiveness
In the past, you had to go to a lot of different government offices to start a business. The Investor Services Centre is now the new law’s name for this.
- The Single Window is a place where people from all the government agencies that need to be there can meet in one room.
- Quick Licensing: The goal is to give out all the needed approvals and licenses within 15 days. Sometimes, if the agency doesn’t respond quickly enough, it can be seen as a de facto approval, which makes the bureaucracy move faster.
Hiring Global Talent
The law says that businesses should hire local workers, but it also knows that some projects need technical skills from other countries. Companies can now hire up to 40% foreign workers thanks to the 2025 updates. This gives businesses the freedom to bring in the experts they need to get a project started.
Is This The Start Of A New Economic Era?
By getting rid of the old rules that made it hard to work together and the complicated red tape, Syria is clearly saying that it is open for business.
