After more than a decade of conflict and isolation, Syria’s neglected tech sector may finally be poised for a breakthrough after the war-torn country won sanctions relief in May. 

On March 23, the Trump administration announced sweeping measures including a 180-day waiver for key economic sanctions on Syria. The European Union took similar steps days later. For Syria, which was left behind as technology and startups helped transform economies across the Middle East, this shift could mean reconnection to the global economy and investors.

As regional neighbors embraced fintech, AI and e-commerce, Syria’s digital economy was hobbled by ruined infrastructure, mass capital flight and the exodus of tech talent after the country plunged into civil war in 2011 as President Bashar al-Assad’s government brutally repressed pro-democracy revolts. 

Alongside squeezing its economy, severe sanctions cut Syria off from international payment platforms, development tools and basic services like Google Maps. Syrians already lacked secure communication means and basic internet access under Assad’s rule, stifling freedoms and innovation opportunities. The digital divide is wide, with recent data indicating that less than 40% of Syria’s 23 million people are online and over 90% live below the poverty level, according to the United Nations.