Copy of How to Start Your Company in Syria: From Concept to Registration — Your Legal Roadmap for Investors

After the issuance of Presidential Decree No. 114 of 2025, Syria has taken a new and confident step toward reshaping its investment environment — especially for foreign investors seeking clear procedures, protection guarantees, and flexible incentives.

Below is your concise guide to understanding how to establish a company in Syria, and how the new decree makes this journey more transparent and secure than ever before.

1. Understanding the New Investment Framework

Decree No. 114/2025 amends several key provisions of Investment Law No. 18/2021. The most important shift is the creation of the Supreme Council for Economic Development, replacing the previous investment bodies and ensuring that decisions on licensing, approvals, and incentives are now centralized and faster.

This means: less bureaucracy, more clarity, and defined timeframes — as all licensing procedures must now be completed within 30 working days after application submission.

2. Forms of Companies in Syria

Under the updated legal framework, investors can establish one of the following company types:

• Partnership Company

• Limited Partnership

• Particular Partnership Company

• Limited Liability Company (LLC)

• Joint Stock Company

Foreign investors can fully or partially own these companies, depending on the sector, and are entitled to equal legal treatment as Syrian nationals.

3. Step-by-Step Process to Register a Company

Step 1: Define Your Business Activity Industrial, commercial, tourism, or service — this determines which authority will process your license.

Step 2: Prepare a Feasibility Study and Business Plan This document is essential for approval and tax incentive eligibility.

Step 3: Submit Your Investment Application Applications go through the Syrian Investment Agency, which now functions under the Presidency and provides a One-Stop Investor Services Center to simplify approvals.

Step 4: Obtain the Investment License Once approved, your Investment License acts as an official authorization to start operations and access customs and tax exemptions.

Step 5: Begin Implementation & Legal Compliance Projects are required to maintain international accounting standards, environmental compliance, and at least 60% Syrian labor participation — with legal flexibility for specialized cases.

4. Foreign Investor Guarantees under Decree No. 114 (2025)

The new decree solidifies Syria’s commitment to creating a legally secure investment climate. Key guarantees include:

• Protection from expropriation or seizure except by final judicial ruling

• Full profit repatriation rights for foreign investors

• No new procedural or financial burdens outside the approved Investment Guide

• Legal protection for intellectual property and innovative projects

• Fast-track dispute resolution through arbitration or specialized investment courts

Foreign investors are also entitled to temporary residence permits during project establishment and operation phases.

5. Tax and Customs Incentives

Projects approved under the new Investment Law enjoy significant benefits:

• 100% income tax exemption for agricultural and livestock projects

• 80% tax reduction for industrial, medical, and export-oriented enterprises

• Full customs exemption on imported machinery, medical equipment, and production lines

These measures position Syria as an increasingly competitive environment for investors exploring frontier markets in the Middle East.

6. Why It Matters

Decree No. 114/2025 represents more than a legal update — it’s a signal to the international business community that Syria is reopening for investment under clear rules, fair treatment, and modernized governance.

At Sultan Law Firm, we provide specialized legal guidance for foreign investors — from company formation to compliance and long-term growth strategies in Syria’s evolving market.