Mastercard and QNB Group complete first international card transaction in Syria in 15 years

Mastercard and QNB Group have successfully completed the first international card transaction in Syria in over 15 years. This milestone follows the technical reconnection of Syria’s payment ecosystem to Mastercard’s global network.

The transaction was a point-of-sale (POS) sale conducted by QNB Syria at an authorized local merchant using a Mastercard issued abroad. This development establishes a foundation for Syria to accept international card payments, aiming to connect consumers, businesses, and financial institutions to the global digital economy.

Mohammed Safwat Raslan, Governor of the Central Bank of Syria, described the event as a significant step toward modernizing the country’s payment ecosystem. Mastercard and QNB Group indicated that the successful transaction demonstrates that the necessary infrastructure is in place to support secure digital payments and facilitate international trade within the country.