First international card payment in 15 years
Bimera completed Syria's first trial electronic payment over the Visa and Mastercard networks on 9 May 2026, ending a 15-year break in international card processing inside the country. The company described the transaction as a milestone toward the digital transformation of Syria's financial sector.
The trial was a controlled test rather than a public rollout, but it marks the first end-to-end demonstration that Visa- and Mastercard-branded payments can be authorized, routed, and settled inside Syria's banking perimeter under current rules.
Central Bank approval and timeline
The trial follows a memorandum of understanding signed on 23 September 2025 between Bimera and the Central Bank of Syria, and a subsequent central bank decision authorizing dealings with global payment networks. Bimera said it has completed the technical requirements to submit a formal application for international electronic payment services, with a focus on building advanced infrastructure to support card acceptance.
According to the central bank's framing, the decision is intended to enhance financial inclusion and pave the way for opening the Syrian market to international financial systems.
Why this matters for the Syrian pound
International card acceptance is one of the practical channels through which dollar liquidity reaches Syrian merchants, tourists, and remittance recipients. With the Syrian pound (SYP) trading near 13,370 against the US dollar (USD) on 9 May 2026, formal card-based payment infrastructure can reduce reliance on informal exchange channels and cash-only retail.
Each percentage point of card-based volume that moves through licensed acquirers, rather than informal hawala or cash, is a percentage point that becomes visible to monetary authorities and easier to settle in foreign currency at official rates.
Outlook for retail and remittances
If Bimera's full application is approved, the move would clear the way for licensed acquirers to onboard merchants and issue acceptance terminals. That, in turn, opens an electronic channel for Syrians abroad whose remittances currently flow through informal networks.
How quickly the rollout reaches consumers will depend on bank readiness, terminal supply, and the broader sanctions environment around correspondent banking lines.