ECONOMY
Business etiquette
Suit or costume are appropriate. Almost all business people speak French or English. Appointments are required. Business cards are welcome, if possible with an Arabic translation on the back. Business discussions in Arab countries are often held with several partners at the same time. Good interpreters are hard to find.
Business hours: Sa-Thu 8.30 a.m.-2.30 p.m. Government offices, banks and Muslim companies are closed on Fridays, but open on Sundays; Christian companies are open on Fridays and closed on Sundays. During the fasting month of Ramadan, government offices open an hour later and everything is slower.
Economy
Commercial department of the Syrian Embassy
Rauchstr. 25, D-10787 Berlin
Tel: (030) 50 17 70.
Austrian-Arab Chamber of Commerce
Lobkowitzplatz 1, 1015 Vienna
Tel: (01) 513 39 65.
Internet: www.aacc.at
Damascus Chamber of Commerce (Chamber of Commerce)
BP 1040, Rue Mouawiah, Damascus
Tel: (011) 221 13 39.
Internet: www.dcc-sy.com
Federation of Syrian Chambers of Commerce
Mousa Bin Nosair St., PO Box 5909 Damascus
Tel: (011) 333 73 44.
Internet: www.fedcommsyr.org
Business contacts
Commercial department of the Syrian Embassy
Rauchstr. 25, D-10787 Berlin
Tel: (030) 50 17 70.
Austrian-Arab Chamber of Commerce
Lobkowitzplatz 1, 1015 Vienna
Tel: (01) 513 39 65.
Internet: www.aacc.at
Damascus Chamber of Commerce (Chamber of Commerce)
BP 1040, Rue Mouawiah, Damascus
Tel: (011) 221 13 39.
Internet: www.dcc-sy.com
Federation of Syrian Chambers of Commerce
Mousa Bin Nosair St., PO Box 5909 Damascus
Tel: (011) 333 73 44.
Internet: www.fedcommsyr.org
COMMUNICATION
Phone
Dial-up remote service.
Cellphone
GSM 900/1800. Network operators are Syrian Telecom Est., MTN Syria (Internet: www.mtn.com.sy) and Syriatel Holdings SA
(Internet: www.syriatel.sy).
Internet
Internet cafes can be found in Damascus. Internet access is also possible in universities and some public institutions.
Post Office
Airmail to Europe takes about a week. Parcels abroad should be packed in the post office, the formalities often take a long time. Post office opening times: Smaller post offices are open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., main post offices open all day.
Radio
Since the use of shortwave frequencies changes several times over the course of a year, it is advisable to contact Deutsche Welle customer service directly (Tel: (+49) (0228) 429 32 08. Internet: www.dw-world.de) to request.
SHOP
Overview
Mother-of-pearl and olive wood objects (e.g. backgammon games), hand-woven items, embroidery, leather goods and gold and silver jewelry.
Shop opening times: Sa-Thu 9.30am-2pm and 4.30pm-9pm (summer); Sat-Thu 9.30 a.m.-2.00 p.m. and 4.00 p.m.-8.00 p.m. (winter).
MONEY
Currency
1 Syrian pound / 1 Syrian lira = 100 piasters. Currency abbreviation: S £, SYP (ISO code). Banknotes are in circulation to the denomination of 1,000, 500, 200, 100 and 50 S £; Coins with denominations of 25, 10, 5, 2 and 1 S £. Piasters are no longer in use.
Credit cards
Currently no credit cards can be used in the country, purchases must be made with cash. Details from the issuer of the credit card in question.
ATMs
Ec / Maestro card / Sparcard
There are ATMs in Damascus and Aleppo where you can withdraw cash with an ec / Maestro card. These are e.g. Sometimes difficult to find, so you should also make alternative provisions.
Attention: Travelers who pay abroad with their bank customer card and want to withdraw money should find out about the possibilities of using their card from their bank before starting their journey.
Current note: Credit cards can currently no longer be used due to the sanctions against Syria. Travelers must pay with cash.
Bank opening times
Counter: Sa-Thu 9 a.m.-12 p.m. The bank staff stands z. Sometimes available a little longer.
Foreign exchange regulations
The import and export of the local currency is currently prohibited. Unrestricted import of foreign currencies; Obligation to declare from an equivalent value of US $ 5,000. Export of foreign currencies up to the amount declared, minus the exchange amounts.
Currency Exchange
According to aristmarketing, money (euros and US dollars) can be exchanged at the airport, in banks and in authorized exchange offices. The local currency can i. General cannot be exchanged for hard currencies. All banks are under government control, and there is at least one branch of the Syrian commercial bank in every major city. Many services have to be paid for in foreign currency by foreigners.
