Syria to replace currency from January 1

December 25, 2025 / 8:28 PM

Sharjah 24 – AFP: Syria’s central bank chief announced on Thursday that the country will begin replacing its currency with a revamped version starting January 1, 2026, as part of efforts to relaunch the economy following the removal of ousted leader Bashar al-Assad last year.

Currency revamp and design

The new banknotes will remove two zeros from the current currency, and some denominations will feature images of Bashar al-Assad and his father, Hafez. Central bank chief Abdul Qadir al-Hasriya stated that the replacement marks “a firm step towards stability and economic recovery” and called the new currency a symbol of Syria’s financial sovereignty.

Implementation details

Details on the replacement process will be provided in a press conference scheduled for Sunday. Hasriya emphasised that the currency change “will not impact the currency’s value” and is intended to avoid further inflation, with six new denominations to be printed.

Context and economic impact

Since the civil war began in 2011, the Syrian pound has fallen from 50 to roughly 10,000–11,000 against the US dollar, forcing citizens to carry large amounts of cash for daily purchases. The move coincides with the US permanently lifting Caesar sanctions, paving the way for new investments and economic recovery.