Syrian Arab Republic

Starting a Business in

Syrian Arab Republic

Below is a detailed summary of the bureaucratic and legal hurdles faced by entrepreneurs wishing to incorporate and register a new firm in Syrian Arab Republic. It examines the procedures, time and cost involved in launching a commercial or industrial firm with up to 50 employees and start-up capital of 10 times the economy's per-capita gross national income.

This information was collected as part of the Doing Business project, which measures and compares regulations relevant to the life cycle of a small- to medium-sized domestic business in 185 economies. The most recent round of data collection was completed in June 2012.

Compare Syrian Arab Republic to 184 other economies.

  • Standardized Company

  • Legal Form: Limited Liability Company
  • Paid in Minimum Capital Requirement: SYP 160,000
  • City: Damascus

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No. Procedure Time to Complete Associated Costs
1 Apply for company name reservation & commercial registration at the Directorate of Internal Trade at the Ministry of Economy and Trade

The founders complete a draft of the memorandum of association and present it to the Ministry of Economy and Trade. The Ministry reviews the draft and requests that the founders make changes needed to comply with the law. If no amendments are required, the founders are called to sign the company memorandum before the Director of Interior Trade at the Ministry. Once approved, the founders are given five certified copies, which they should take to the Directorate of Finance for registration upon declaring an address and place of business and paying the stamp duty.
5 days SYP 30
2 Open a financial record for the company, register for taxes and buy stamps at the tax authority of the Finance Ministry

The founders may open a financial record for the company at the Tax and Financial Department. In this procedure, the Tax Department will be informed about the start of business activities. Stamp duty is calculated at 0.4% of the capital amount, and the local administrative fee is calculated at 5% of the Stamp Duty collected. In addition a receipt stamp in the amount of SYP 20 is payable.
3 days 0.4% of capital (stamp duty) + 5% of the stamp duty (local administrative tax) + SYP 20 (receipt stamp)
* 3 Publish memorandum of association in the Official Gazette

Limited liability companies are required by law to publish the decision of the establishement of the company in the Official Gazette. Payment is to be made to the Official Gazette before obtaining the commercial registration certificate.
1 day, simultaneous with procedure 2 SYP 4,000
* 4 Deposit the initial capital in a bank and obtain a statement

The founders are required to deposit initial capital (40% of the capital at the time of registration) before finalizing commercial registration with the Ministry of Economy and Trade.
1 day, simultaneous with procedure 2 SYP 300
5 Visit commercial registry with the signed copy of articles of incorporation

The company will be registered upon presenting the articles of incorporation and the other requested documents, including proof of headquarters (ownership or lease contract of the premises, bank statement for proof of deposit of the company capital, criminal record certificate, no objection letter from the Finance Ministry and the Gazette receipt.


1 day SYP 10,000
6 Register with the Social Security Organization

The company must register its employees with the social security organization within 15 days of employment. The social security organization takes care of pension and worker's compensation.
1 day SYP 20
7 Make a company seal

Though not explicitly cited in Syrian law, the use of a seal is a commercial custom. The official authorities, especially the tax authorities, assume that companies use a seal to authenticate their transactions. Under the Syrian commercial law, commercial custom is considered as a source of commercial law.
3 days SYP 500
* Takes place simultaneously with another procedure.
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