Syria expects more than $1 billion in foreign capital to flow into the country to establish new banks, Central Bank Governor Mohammad Safwat Raslan said, as the bank seeks to encourage investment, protect customers’ rights and open secure money-transfer channels through official institutions. Raslan told state news agency SANA on Sunday that licensing requirements already exist for both Islamic and conventional banks. Key criteria include applicants’ experience and reputation and the founders’ financial solvency, as well as a requirement for a strategic banking partner to hold at least a 10 percent stake in the new bank. The timeframe for granting licenses depends on applicants submitting the required documents and meeting the stipulated conditions, he explained. The Central Bank is working to ensure that preliminary licenses are issued within three to four months of receiving all requirements. Raslan dismissed concerns about financial risks, noting that the law allows foreign investors to retain 60 percent of their paid-in capital in foreign currency. Investors’ rights to profits and their transfer are also protected, he added, pointing to the removal of all restrictions on buying, selling or transferring foreign currency. On regulatory risks, Raslan stressed that the Central Bank issues its regulatory and supervisory decisions in accordance with international risk and accounting standards, meaning investors should find no difference between standards applied in Syria and those in their home countries. The Central Bank is also encouraging international money-transfer providers to enter the Syrian market through Syrian financial institutions to create secure transfer channels for Syrians and foreigners and protect their rights and interests. Daily and monthly transfer limits will be determined by agreements between Syrian financial institutions and banks or service providers abroad, according to the official. Separately, President Ahmad al-Sharaa issued Decree No. 176 of 2026 appointing Nebras Mohammad Wahid Khayyata as first deputy governor of the Central Bank of Syria. The decree also repealed any provisions conflicting with its terms.
