Syrian Arab Republic
Business Guide

Compiled by:

Embassy of Switzerland

Damascus, August 2009

Arrival and departure

Swiss citizens intending to visit Syria are required to obtain a visa. It is advised to apply for the visa well ahead
(not less than 3 weeks) of the departure date as the process generally takes time. Passports should be at least
6 months valid.

Visas are usually three- to six- months valid for 15 days duration of stay, but one month is generally tolerated.
In case the visitor wishes to extend his stay more, he should apply to the Syrian Immigration & Passports De-
partment before expiration date, and the passport would be stamped accordingly. Visas obtained at a land
border are also valid for 30 days.

Visitors should apply for a multiple-entry visa if they plan to enter neighbouring countries (incl. Lebanon and
Jordan).

Passports that bear a trip to Israel will be rejected and possibly black-listed.

For visa fees, please contact the General Consulate of the Syrian Arab Republic in Geneva at the following
address:

GENERAL CONSULATE OF THE SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC – GENEVA
Rue de Lausanne 72 – CH 1202 Genève
Tel.: [phone]
Fax: [phone]


Languages used for business

The country’s official language is Arabic. English and French are commonly used in the business community
and fairly-spoken, especially in main cities like Damascus, Aleppo, Homs, Lattakia, and Tartous.

Public sector employees, however, speak generally English or French to a lesser extent.

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Public holidays

New Year’s Eve – January 1

st

Prophet’s Day & Revolution Day – March 8

th

Mother’s Day – March 21

st

Easter (W) – April 12

th

National Day – April 17

th

Easter (E) – April 19

th

Labour Day – May 1

st

Martyrs’ Day – May 6

th

(Eid-al-Fitr) Muslim Holiday – September 20 – 22

nd

*

October War – October 6

th

Correctionist Movement – November 16

th

(Eid-al-Adha) Muslim Holiday – November 27 – 31

st

*

Muslim New Year – December 17

th

*

Christmas Day – December 25

th

*Exact day depends on the Islamic lunar calendar.
Note: The holy month of Ramadan occurs this year after mid-August.

Health and inoculations

Private hospitals of reasonably good standards are available in main cities. Private medical and dental clinics
of good quality, especially in Damascus and Aleppo, are also available.

Health treatment in Syria is still primarily paid in cash unless the traveller’s medical insurance policy covers
treatment abroad. Treatment costs are well less expensive than European levels. The same applies for the
price of locally-manufactured pharmaceuticals due to the fixed-price policy of the government.

No vaccinations when visiting Syria are required. Nevertheless, preventive shots against Hepatitis A and B are
welcomed.

Tap water in major cities are potable, however, bottled water is widely available and becoming more common.

Visitors should try to avoid salads in low-priced restaurants (especially in summer), unwashed fruits, and ex-
posed food.

Time zone

Oct. – Mar. = GMT + 2hrs.
Apr. – Sep. = GMT + 3hrs.

Electricity supply

Syria’s standard electricity is 220 volts. Two-pin European plug is used. An adapter is required when using a
Swiss three-pin, a British three-pin, or an American flat two-pin plugs. Such adapters are easy to find in local
stores.

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Methods of payment

1 Syrian Pound = 100 piastres.

The Syrian Pound is denominated into 1, 2, 5, 10, and 25 pound coins and 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1’000 notes.

Cash (in Syrian Pounds) remains the primary method of payment in Syria. Major hotels and high-end restau-
rants do accept credit cards though. For non-Syrians, hotel accommodation is settled by hard currency.

Exchanging foreign currencies has become common in the country via private money exchangers, public and
private banks. As of August 2009, the current exchange rate stands roughly at 1 US $ = 46.00 SYP.

Private banks are nowadays spread in major cities, and credit cards are more and more accepted. Internation-
ally-linked ATMs are also available.

Non-resident foreigners travelling to Syria are allowed to enter up to US $ 5’000, or their equivalent in other
currencies, without declaration. Amounts exceeding this limit should be duly declared upon entry, or else one
might risk their confiscation upon departure.

Transportation

Swiss does not currently operate flights to Syria. International flights arrive at the Damascus International Air-
port. Several airlines operate flights to the 2

nd

biggest city Aleppo as well.

Domestic flights are run by the state-owned Syrian Arab Airlines, the main route being between Damascus and
Aleppo.

Transfer from Damascus Airport to the city center (30 km) can be done either by bus or taxi, though a taxi is
much more convenient and remains inexpensive compared to European levels. A taxi from the airport to the
city center costs around SYP 600.00 (US $ 12.00).

Taxis are the most convenient means of transport within major cities as well. The fee is determined by a meter
for foreigners and Syrians alike. A small tip over the meter price is always welcomed.

Rental car services are also available, however, in summer they could be scarce.

Travelling between major cities can be done either by bus, train, or taxi. The airplane remains less time-
consuming. Buses and trains are slower, but in the case of buses they can connect the entire country. Private
car rentals are also an option.

Hotels

Some international chain hotels, like Four Seasons and Sheraton, exist in Syria along with other Syrian 5 & 4-
star hotels. These are mainly concentrated in but not excluded to main cities like Damascus and Aleppo. The
Syrian 5-star chain Cham Palaces & Hotels, for example, covering most of the main cities in the country can be
a comfortable option.

Payments at major hotels can be done via credit cards, nevertheless, it is preferable to make reservations
ahead of travel. A SYP 100-tip is welcomed by porters.

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Communication

Mobile phone networks are widely available throughout major cities and towns. The two GSM providers, Syri-
atel and MTN, provide 3G services, and pre-paid accounts are easy to open. Roaming services have been
concluded with most countries including Switzerland.

Internet cafes can be found easily in main cities. Many cafés, especially in Damascus and Aleppo, provide
wireless internet service as well (either paid or for free).

The fixed landline network is of good quality and is spread throughout the main cities and towns. International
calls can be generally made from the hotel unless it is a locally designated fixed line.

Pre-paid long distance cards are also available to use via any fixed landline.

International phone code for Syria:

00963 – 11 (for Damascus)

00963 – 21 (for Aleppo)

Business hours

The working week for the government and most of the private sector is from Sunday till Thursday (some private
companies work also on Saturdays). Shops on Saturdays remain open in addition to some bank branches.
Fridays are the Muslim resting days where everything is generally closed (except for restaurants and the main
shopping malls). Christian quarters observe Sundays, and open shops on Fridays.

Corporate business hours are generally from 08.30 till 19.00. Some companies have a two-shifts schedule.
Working hours for government offices and public sector enterprises are from 08.00 till 15.00. Meetings with
high-level officials, can sometimes occur in the late afternoon.

For business travellers, special attention should be paid during the holy month of Ramadan as business hours
both in the private and public sectors are reduced and all activity ends before ‘Iftar’ at sunset (time to break the
fasting). In 2009, Ramadan occurs after mid-August.

Addresses and opening hours of embassies and consulates

Embassies often have a five-day working week schedule. The majority opens from Sunday to Thursday in
harmony with the rest of the country, with some few exceptions opening from Monday to Friday. General work-
ing hours are from 08.00 to 16.30, with visa sections opening for few fixed hours every working day.

The schedule of the Swiss Embassy in Damascus is as follows:

Working days: Sunday to Thursday
Working hours: 08.00 to 14.00: Sundays and Thursdays only
08.00 to 16.30 Mondays, Tuesdays, & Wednesdays
Visa Section: 09.00 to 11.00: Sunday through Thursday

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Tips for initiating business contacts

Be it export to the Syrian market or participating in public tenders, selecting a reputable and well-established
local partner is obviously paramount. However, identifying the right partner, as is often the case, can be a chal-
lenge.

Assuming a Swiss firm has done its market research, drawing up a shortlist of potential agents is generally
what comes next. The Commercial Section of this Embassy could be one of the channels to assist the Swiss
firm in getting this kind of information. The internet is another channel too, however, not all good business con-
tacts are necessarily available online. Furthermore, and whenever the means are there, the Swiss firm could
do very well to take the effort, before selecting its partner, to send its representative to meet those potential
prospects and visit their offices. Such a measure could be extremely useful in the selection process. Moreover,
such a trip could prove also worthwhile in terms of providing the firm with a first-hand insight into the market
itself and most probably a better understanding of the specificity of this market culture. Even after a partner is
selected, sustaining a good working relationship with your agent on the long run is always crucial to the busi-
ness itself. This could be done for example by paying your partner a visit every now and then, sending him
some product promotional items (if relevant), or maybe even by inviting him to a regional gathering abroad
along with the firm’s other agents. As universally acknowledged, a ‘personalized’ approach to your agent never
fails to add value to the relationship. In Syria, this is no exception.

When considering applying for a tender with the public sector, and especially in industries requiring sophisti-
cated and expensive machinery like power generation or railways for example, the same could be said about
sending a high-level representative of the interested Swiss firm to sit and meet with the state sector administra-
tion and technical staff. This is very helpful in giving the interested Swiss firm a clearer picture of the situation
on the ground. If already chosen, these meetings could well be organized by the agent himself.

Of course visiting local trade fairs for identifying competitors as well as potential partners is also another useful
measure to initiate business contacts in the target country and remains one of the most efficient ways to get
straight away into the business. However, one must take time to select a specialized trade fair with an estab-
lished reputation.

Business practices

The Syrian mentality refrains from a straight-forward approach and very much appreciates moving on first to a
friendly basis while proceeding to establish a business relationship. Social and informal chat that precedes
serious business discussions are simply deeply-rooted cultural habits, and, therefore, are not to be ignored or
underestimated.

As in many countries, when visiting a country to meet private business partners, invitations for lunch or dinner
are often extended out as a welcoming gesture and by way of consolidating business ties.

Similarly, but from a different angle, extending lunch invitations by visiting Swiss firms to state-sector employ-
ees (for example after product presentations) is regarded as a common practice as long as it is in a general
invitation set-up. Private or personal invitations can be misinterpreted. Distribution of promotional gifts during a
product presentation is also welcomed. Gifts are welcome as long as they are perceived of a promotional
rather than a commercial value. Avoid offering alcoholic drinks. Further to the point, year-end agendas, ad-
dress books, calendars, etc. are another way of showing courtesy. Some Arabic expressions like “as-salaam
aleikum” (peace be upon you) or “shukran” (thank you) can be at times instant ice-breakers.

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Women business travellers encounter no specific problems when conducting business in Syria. However, de-
cent dress code according to international standards should be obviously stressed.

Throughout the holy month of Ramadan, visitors should show a general respect for fasting customs. Avoiding
public consumption of tobacco – during business meetings for instance - is one of the rules to be observed
during that period of the year (see public holidays for Ramadan timing this year).

Special features on the market

Doing business in the Syrian market can be rewarding for those who can be or afford to be patient, even
though regulations may generally seem complicated, bureaucratic, and time-consuming at first.

Among the challenges that a Swiss firm might face are bureaucracy (especially judicial bureaucracy) and, in
some instances, corruption. Nevertheless, the impact of bureaucracy, for example, can be always alleviated
with the presence of an efficient agent. Another issue is insufficient transparency. When considering invest-
ment for instance, there are many internal regulations and processes that one needs to be acquainted with.
Knowledge of the law itself alone is not enough. This is why it is of utmost importance that an investor contracts
at least for a good legal advice should he decide to enter the Syrian market without a partner.

When exporting to the Syrian market, strict adherence to Syrian import regulations - usually instructed by the
agent himself - is key in order to avoid unnecessary delays at the Syrian customs arising from discrepancies.

Also worth mentioning in this regard, agent exclusivity is no longer a requirement of Syrian import regulations.
It is , therefore, up to the Swiss firm to decide if it wants an exclusive agent or a distributor. This is not the case
when tendering with the public sector, where appointing a local agent, unless otherwise stated, is a must for a
Swiss firm, and particularly when it is awarded a contract.

In business-to-business transactions, “confirmed and irrevocable” letters of credit are the safest means of pay-
ment especially at the beginning of a newly-established business relation.

Reaching common grounds with a Syrian partner is generally no big worry for a Swiss firm. However, should a
dispute arise, amicable settlement is often highly recommended rather than entering into a lengthy and expen-
sive legal process. This is more so when dealing with the state sector enterprises.






Date: 27

th

of August 2009

Author: MARDINI,

Ali

Commercial

Assistant

Author’s address:

Embassy of Switzerland – Damascus

2, Shafi Str. – Eastern Mezzeh – Damascus

Tel. [phone] – ext.24

Fax [phone]

Email:

[e-mail]

[e-mail]