Syria Company Search Guide 2026: How to Verify a Syrian Business

TL;DR. Syria has been in civil conflict since 2011. The Assad regime fell in December 2024 and a transitional political process is underway as of May 2026. Syria’s commercial registry exists under the Ministry of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection but is not accessible to foreign buyers through any reliable online channel. Complete US sanctions under the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act (Caesar Act) and OFAC Syria Sanctions program apply, with certain OFAC General Licenses providing limited exemptions. EU restrictive measures on Syria are under review following the regime change. Foreign compliance buyers should treat Syria as extremely high-risk and consult qualified counsel before any engagement.

Political context (critical for compliance buyers)

Syria’s civil war began in 2011. In December 2024, the Assad regime collapsed following a rapid military offensive by opposition forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and allied groups. A transitional government process is underway in Damascus. As of May 2026, the nature of the new governing authority, its international recognition status, and the implications for sanctions regimes are evolving. [VERIFY: current status of Syrian transitional government recognition and specific changes to US/EU sanctions programs as of mid-2026]

The sanctions market for Syria is changing faster than this guide can track. Any engagement with Syrian entities requires real-time verification of current OFAC and EU sanctions status and specific legal counsel.

What is the official Syria business registry?

Syria’s commercial entity registry is maintained by the Ministry of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection (وزارة التجارة الداخلية وحماية المستهلك), previously known as the Ministry of Economy and Foreign Trade. The Commercial Register (السجل التجاري) covers:

• Public joint-stock companies (شركة مساهمة)
• Limited liability companies (شركة ذات مسؤولية محدودة)
• Partnerships
• Sole establishments
• Branches of foreign companies

The Ministry’s portal at mot.gov.sy is the official point of contact, but the site is in Arabic and provides no functional public company search for foreign users. Registry access is effectively offline, in-person, and in Arabic, with no remote verification pathway for international buyers. [VERIFY: any changes to online access post-December 2024 transition]

Sanctions framework

OFAC Syria Sanctions

OFAC maintains a complete Syria Sanctions program under Executive Order 13582 and related orders, and the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019 (the “Caesar Act,” 22 U.S.C. 8791 et seq.). The Caesar Act imposes secondary sanctions on individuals and entities that provide material support to the Assad government’s reconstruction and energy sectors, which were the primary drivers of the program.

Following the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, OFAC began reviewing the Syria sanctions program. OFAC issued guidance indicating that certain sanctions tied specifically to the Assad government may be reviewed, and specific transitional general licenses may have been issued to facilitate humanitarian activity and reconstruction support. [VERIFY: current OFAC Syria general license status, specifically any post-Assad transition modifications to the Caesar Act application, as of mid-2026]

OFAC General License 21 and related licenses (pre-transition) permitted personal remittances, certain NGO activities, and communications technology exports. The full list of current general licenses for Syria, including any new licenses issued following the transition, must be verified at ofac.treasury.gov.

HTS designation. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which played a leading role in the opposition offensive, has historically been designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and SDGT by the US State Department and OFAC. The transitional government’s relationship with HTS-designated individuals and entities is a key compliance question for any Syria-related engagement post-December 2024. [VERIFY: current OFAC and State Department designation status of HTS and its key individuals as of 2026]

EU Restrictive Measures

The EU has maintained complete restrictive measures on Syria under multiple Council Decisions and Regulations since 2011 (Council Regulation (EU) No 36/2012 as amended). Following the Assad regime’s fall, the EU began a process of reviewing its Syria sanctions to facilitate humanitarian access, reconstruction investment, and engagement with the transitional authority. [VERIFY: current status of EU Syria sanctions review and any suspensions or modifications as of mid-2026]

UN sanctions

The UN Security Council has not imposed complete Syria country sanctions. However, specific individuals and entities are designated under UN frameworks.

FATF status

Syria is on the FATF grey list (Jurisdictions Under Increased Monitoring). Syria was added to the grey list in 2023, reflecting the severe degradation of its AML/CFT infrastructure over a decade of conflict. Check current status at fatf-gafi.org. [VERIFY: any FATF status updates following the political transition in late 2024]

Practical guidance for compliance buyers

• Verify sanctions status in real time. The Syria sanctions market is changing following the December 2024 political transition. Do not rely on guidance that is more than a few months old. Check OFAC, EU, and UK sanctions pages directly before any Syria-related decision.
• HTS nexus is a key risk. The transitional authority’s composition and any links to HTS-designated individuals create compliance complexity that does not resolve automatically with the regime change. Engage qualified sanctions counsel.
• Humanitarian carve-outs. OFAC has historically maintained general licenses for NGO humanitarian activities and personal remittances in Syria. These remain relevant for aid organizations and diaspora. Verify current scope.
• Reconstruction and energy sectors. The Caesar Act’s secondary sanctions on reconstruction and energy-sector support for Syria are the most broad-reaching element of the US program. These provisions are under review post-transition. Do not assume they have been lifted without verified current guidance.
• Registry access. Even setting aside sanctions, accessing Syrian company records is practically very difficult. Local counsel in Damascus or Aleppo, where accessible, can obtain registry extracts. The security environment and displacement of professionals since 2011 have severely constrained this capacity.

FAQ

Have Syria sanctions changed after the Assad regime fell in December 2024?

The US and EU both began reviewing their Syria sanctions programs following the regime change. Some modifications have likely occurred; the specific status as of mid-2026 must be verified directly with OFAC and the EU sanctions authority. Do not assume either complete suspension or full continuation without current legal advice. [VERIFY: specific OFAC and EU changes as of May 2026]

Is Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) still designated as a terrorist organization?

As of early 2026, HTS remained designated by the US as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. [VERIFY: current designation status as of May 2026, including any modifications following the Syrian transition]

Is Syria on the FATF grey list?

Yes. Syria has been on the FATF grey list since 2023. Check current status at fatf-gafi.org.

Can I send humanitarian aid to Syria?

Yes, subject to applicable OFAC general licenses and corresponding EU frameworks. The scope of permitted humanitarian activity must be verified against current licenses. Consult qualified counsel and verify directly at ofac.treasury.gov.

Last verified: May 2026. Sources: OFAC Syria Sanctions Program (ofac.treasury.gov); Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act (22 U.S.C. 8791); EU Restrictive Measures on Syria (eeas.europa.eu); FATF Syria Country Page (fatf-gafi.org). [VERIFY:] flags throughout reflect rapidly changing situation following December 2024 political transition.