Visa has announced the successful execution of its first live payment transaction using an international Visa card in Syria, in collaboration with Fransabank Lebanon as the acquiring financial institution and Bemira, a digital payment company. The test, conducted in Damascus, represents a significant milestone in the modernization of Syria’s digital payment infrastructure.
Paving the Way for International Card Acceptance
The trial is designed to expand digital payment capabilities in Syria, enabling international visitors to use their familiar and secure payment methods while in the country. This initiative aligns with broader efforts to integrate Syria into the global digital economy.
Central Bank Support and Regulatory Compliance
Mohammad Safwat Raslan, Governor of the Central Bank of Syria, emphasized that upgrading the national payment system and enhancing its integration with international payment networks is a critical component of the country’s financial infrastructure development. He noted that the Visa test is a practical step toward accepting international cards, expanding payment options, and facilitating transactions for international visitors. Raslan also stressed the importance of maintaining robust compliance, risk management, and operational controls to ensure the integrity of payment and settlement processes and to build trust in the payment ecosystem.
Visa’s Strategic Commitment
Leila Serhan, Senior Vice President and Regional General Manager for North Africa, Levant, and Pakistan at Visa, stated that the company has taken several steps over the past months to support the reintroduction of digital payments in Syria and enhance its integration into the global digital economy, while adhering to legal, regulatory, and compliance standards. She described the successful test as a significant achievement and a step toward enabling international visitors to use their cards in Syria, contributing to the development of the payment system and digital connectivity.
Partnership and Operational Readiness
Nadim Mjaess, CEO of Fransabank’s international branch, highlighted that the collaboration with Visa marks an important milestone, culminating ongoing efforts to reconnect Syria with international payment networks. He affirmed that this step is the beginning of a broader path toward enabling international card acceptance in Syria, with a commitment to the approved framework and the highest standards of governance, compliance, and operational integrity.
Michel Kattoua, Executive Director of Bemira, described the reintroduction of international Visa card payments as a notable achievement in Syria’s digital transformation journey. He reiterated the company’s commitment to collaborating with Visa, Fransabank Lebanon, and other ecosystem partners to provide secure and reliable payment operations, linking visitors and businesses to the digital financial system.
Broader Efforts and Future Outlook
This test is part of a wider initiative led by Visa, in cooperation with the Central Bank of Syria and various financial sector stakeholders, to support the country’s digital economy. In December 2025, Visa announced a strategic roadmap to support Syria’s integration into the global digital economy. In February 2026, Visa hosted a specialized forum in Damascus bringing together banks, payment ecosystem partners, and policymakers, and also signed a memorandum of understanding with Syria’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology in San Francisco.
The successful test of the first international payment transaction is a preparatory step toward expanding the acceptance of international cards in Syria. Ongoing work will focus on completing the necessary regulatory and operational requirements to launch the service on a wider scale.