Syria has processed its first international card payment in more than 15 years, after its payments network was technically reconnected to Mastercard's global system, the two companies said on August 28.

The transaction reopens a channel to global card networks that had been severed through years of war and sanctions, and forms part of a wider push to rebuild Syria's financial infrastructure under President Ahmed al-Sharaa's government, which took power after the fall of Bashar al-Assad in late 2024.

QNB Syria, a unit of Qatar's QNB Group, processed the payment at an approved local merchant using an internationally issued Mastercard card at a point-of-sale terminal, the companies said. The transaction established that the infrastructure could accept internationally issued cards, they said, describing it as a foundation for broader acceptance of international payments across the country.

Central Bank of Syria governor Mohammed Safwat Raslan called the payment an important step in modernising the country's payments system, saying it demonstrated the value of public and private sector collaboration in enabling secure international payment acceptance.

Yousef Mahmoud Al-Neama, group chief business officer at QNB Group, said connecting merchants to international payment capabilities would give businesses greater choice while supporting a shift towards a more modern and secure digital payments system.

Adam Jones, division president for West Arabia at Mastercard, said the company would continue working with the central bank and financial institutions to expand access to global payment capabilities and broader international card acceptance.

Syria's reintegration into the global financial system faces obstacles beyond card networks, with analysts pointing to correspondent banks that remain hesitant over compliance risks, and to the need for legal and regulatory reform and adherence to Financial Action Task Force standards.