For foreign investors who are interested in the Levant, Syria in 2026 will look very different from how it does now. After the change to an interim government in late 2024 and the lifting of many international sanctions, the country is working hard to become a centre for investment in agriculture and industry. But the Economic Reset comes with a new set of laws.
The New Wage Floor
The currency reform on January 1, 2026, is one of the most important updates for any investor. Syria changed the value of its currency by 100 times in Presidential Decree No. 293 of 2025.
Minimum Wage
Starting in January 2026, the law says that the private sector must pay at least 7,500 Syrian Pounds (SYP) per month. This was changed from the old SYP level of 750,000 in 2025.
The National Directive
The minimum wage is a legal floor, but the Ministry of Economy and Industry has been pushing the private sector to match the 200% raises that public sector employees just got to boost domestic demand. To stay competitive and in line with the spirit of the Economic Reset, investors should plan to pay wages that are much higher than the minimum.
Contracts And The 7-Day Rule
Contracts are the main way that Syrian labour law protects workers. The following rules apply whether you hire local talent or foreign experts.
Probationary Periods
The law says that the longest probation period can be three months. During this time, either party can end the relationship with little trouble.
Fixed-Term vs. Indefinite
If you break a fixed-term contract early, the employer usually has to pay you for the rest of the contract period.
Notice Periods
Depending on the terms of the contract and how long the employee has been with the company, a notice period of up to three months is required for standard terminations.
Hiring Foreign Nationals: Rules And Limits
The government wants foreign investment, but labour laws still put the local workforce first. When foreign investors want to hire people from other countries, they have to deal with certain problems.
Required Work Permits
The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs must give all foreign nationals a work permit. Usually, these are good for a year and are linked to a certain job title and employer.
The Skills Gap Justification
To hire someone from another country, an employer usually has to show that the job needs a specific set of skills that aren’t easy to find in the local Syrian job market.
Repatriation Guarantees
In 2026, new investment laws made it easier for foreign investors and employees to send a large part of their profits and salaries abroad in foreign currency. This is a big change from the previous decades when capital was controlled.
Tax Reform 2026: A Simplified Landscape
As of early 2026, the old, fragmented, fee-heavy tax regime has been replaced by a unified code. This is a huge help for departments that deal with compliance.
| Aspect | 2026 Regulation |
| Personal Income Tax (PIT) | First 60M SYP/year (approx. $5,200) is exempt. |
| Wage Tax Rate | 6% on the first 5M SYP of taxable income; 8% above that. |
| Corporate Tax (Priority) | 10% for industry, tech, healthcare and education. |
| Corporate Tax (Standard) | 15% for all other non-priority sectors. |
The “discretionary committees” that used to decide how much tax you owed are no longer in the 2026 tax code. Instead, the system has gone to digital self-declaration and specialised tax courts, which have cut down on the “hidden costs” of doing business in Syria by a lot.
Leave And Benefits: The Statutory Minimums
The Minimum Requirements by Law, Syria’s labour code, make it clear what mandatory benefits must be included in any total rewards strategy.
Paid Time Off
Employees must get at least 14 days of paid time off each year.
Sick Leave
The system is surprisingly strong. Workers get the first 90 days at 70% of their pay and then another 90 days at 80%.
Maternity Leave
Female workers get 120 days of paid maternity leave.
Social Security
All full-time employees must sign up for the national social security program. Contributions pay for pensions for people over 65, disabilities and injuries at work.
Resolving Disputes: Local vs. International
The change in how disputes are settled may be the most important one for investors in 2026. New investment rules let foreign companies choose arbitration as a way to settle disputes with the state or its workers. Investors can often choose local or even international arbitrators, which adds a level of legal protection that wasn’t available before.
Advice for Investors on Strategy
In 2026, the Syrian job market will have low wages but a high need for skilled reintegration. Many workers are coming back from the diaspora with advanced skills, but they may need “bridge” training to get used to the new digital systems the Ministry is putting in place.
Investing in Industrial Cities, such as Hassia, Sheikh Najjar or Adra, is the best choice because these areas offer “one-stop-shop” administrative services that handle everything from labour permits to tax registrations to utility connections.
