A selection of reports, papers and articles on Syria.

The Real Estate Bank has announced that it generated profits in 2019 for the second year in a row, after years of losses.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has reportedly issued laws ratifying three contracts granting the Qaterji brothers a strategic role in Syria’s oil distribution sector.

The government has frozen the assets of Rami Makhlouf, a step that appears to follow previous restrictions on the once-powerful businessman, but which could still be reversed.

The full transcript of the interview of Bashar Al-Assad by Italian TV channel Rai News 24 on December 09, 2019.

The transcript is by state news agency, SANA.

In this factsheet, we look at Syria’s economic relations with the United Arab Emirates.

For the second time in less than two months, the Syrian government has acted against Tarif Al-Akhras, one of the country’s most powerful businessmen, although his success in reversing some earlier decisions points to his continued influence.

A new hotel has opened in Damascus, another sign that Syria’s tourism industry is one of the country’s few sectors able to attract even limited private investment.

A selection of reports, papers and articles on Syria.

The Syrian President has sent parliament a draft law to ratify three contracts awarded to the Qaterji brothers to build two oil refineries and develop the Banias oil terminal.

The Ministry of Finance has frozen the assets and bank accounts of MTN-Syria and of several of its board members, a decision that signals that it wants to put pressure on one of the country’s largest companies.

The Syrian government has significantly increased the salaries of civil servants, a move that will provide welcome short-term relief, but will also accelerate inflation and the depreciation of the currency.

This text regulates rental contracts signed for residential properties before February 2001 and for commercial properties before February 2006. For rental contracts signed after these dates, it is Law No. 6 of 2001 that applies.

This text regulates rental contracts signed for residential properties after February 2001 and for commercial properties after February 2006. For rental contracts signed before these dates, it is Law No. 20 of 2015 that now applies.

This text amends the Conscription Law of 2007. The full text of the Law that you can read here has been corrected accordingly.

This text determines the territorial waters of Syria and their use, including its exclusive economic zone. It is particularly relevant given the country's potential offshore oil and gas resources. This text is translated with its latest amendment.

The full transcript of the interview of Bashar Al-Assad by Russian TV network, RT.

Syrian imports of Iranian crude oil doubled in the six months through the end of September, according to recent data, increasing inventories.

The text of the interview of Bashar Al-Assad by Syrian state TV on October 31, 2019.

The trial of Nader Qalei in Canada will take place in May next year as the Syrian investor is expanding his investments back home.

The Central Bank of Syria has ordered a freeze on the bank accounts of Tarif Al-Akhras, one of the country’s most powerful businessmen and a relative of Asma Al-Assad, as well as on those of several other prominent businessmen, a move that seems to confirm the government’s increasing pressures on the business community.

The Syrian Cabinet established on September 23 a new committee to oversee the reform of the state-owned economic enterprises, the latest of such efforts that have been ongoing for at least the past two decades.

The Syrian government has appointed among its representatives to the UN-led constitutional committee one of the country’s most influential business cronies.

Syria’s gold market remains disrupted by tensions between goldsmiths and the Ministry of Finance, unstable prices and the spread of unmarked gold.

Since Tuesday 27 August Damascus is full of rumours on a clampdown by Bashar Al-Assad on Rami Makhlouf, a move which, if confirmed, could signal a significant change at the helm of the Syrian regime.

A selection of reports, papers and articles on Syria.

The Syrian government has taken new decisions granting more benefits to the victims of the war from the army and security services and to their families.

The Real Estate Bank has announced that it is granting a loan to a contractor linked to the Ministry of Defence to build residential suburbs across Syria.

This text, enacted at the beginning of 2018, establishes a protected area around the Fijeh Springs, which involves the expropriation of real estate within the immediate surrounding of the water canals that transport water from the springs to Damascus.

This text, published more than a decade ago, regulates private sector investment projects licensed by the Syrian Investment Agency.

The Ministry of Administrative Development has announced that it was working on a bill to require public officials to declare their assets before their appointment.

Four Seasons, the company that managed the most luxurious hotel property in Damascus and a symbol of the liberalisation of the Syrian economy under Bashar Al-Assad, has announced that it was leaving the country.

A new very influential investor is expanding his activities across various business sectors in a similar fashion to other individuals who have benefitted from the Syrian war.

This is an edited transcript of the speech of Bashar Al-Assad on May 20 following the inauguration of the International Islamic Cham Center for Confronting Terrorism and Extremism, which is affiliated to the Ministry of Religious Endowments.

The UK has published regulations on sanctions on Syria that will come into force if the UK leaves the European Union.

The list below includes the names of all the individuals that have been blacklisted by the European Union since the beginning of the Syrian uprising in March 2011.

The government has announced a new plan to rehabilitate the Barada valley area with the aim of securing water supplies to the Syrian capital and attracting investment in the real estate sector.

A selection of reports, papers and articles on Syria.

Syria and Venezuela talked last week of boosting their economic relations during the visit to Damascus of Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza.

The Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources has tightened further the allocation of oil products sold to private car owners as part of its efforts to face the massive shortage in oil products.

A private sector company owned by influential investors has gained a quasi-monopoly on the import into Syria of oil products, highlighting the key role this company plays as the government battles to reduce shortages.

Syria is set to handover to Russia the commercial port of Tartous, another major economic asset Damascus is giving away.

As energy shortages get more acute the Syrian government has announced plans for a more severe rationing of petrol and blamed Egypt for preventing Iranian oil supplies through the Suez Canal.

A very rare public spat has highlighted tensions between Samer Foz and Rami Makhlouf, Syria’s two most powerful business cronies.

A selection of reports, papers and articles on Syria including a special section this week on Trump's Golan decision.

The minister of tourism has estimated the losses of the sector since 2011 at some USD 50 billion.