Visa, Mastercard Process First International Card Payments in Syria

Syria had been designated a state sponsor of terrorism by the United States since 1979, exposing banks to financial restrictions and significant legal and compliance risks. Washington ended its comprehensive Syria sanctions program in December 2025 but retained targeted measures and the terrorism designation. Reconnecting to Visa and Mastercard therefore marks a significant step in Damascus’s effort to restore cross-border payments, correspondent banking ties and investor access after the Assad government fell in December 2024.

The U.S. State Department removed Syria from the state sponsors of terrorism list on Aug. 24, 2026, and the card networks completed transactions two days later. QNB Group and Mastercard said they processed the world’s first end-to-end international card payment in Syria. Visa separately ran a live test with Fransabank Lebanon as acquirer and Syrian payments company Paymera, with President Ahmed al-Sharaa paying at a Damascus restaurant. Transaction values were not disclosed, and nationwide acceptance is not yet available.