On August 13, 2025, Google announced a landmark shift in its global advertising policy: Syria was officially removed from the United States Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctions list, ending more than a decade of digital advertising restrictions in the country. This move, detailed in an official policy update and first reported by PPC Land, marks the first major reduction in Google’s list of embargoed territories since the Syrian civil war began in 2011. For the country’s 22 million residents—and for businesses eyeing the region’s emerging digital economy—the news signals a cautious but momentous reopening to the world’s largest digital advertising ecosystem.
According to Google’s policy documentation, the change impacts three key advertising platforms: Google Ads, Ad Exchange, and Ad Manager. Each previously maintained a strict ban on Syrian users, publishers, and advertisers, in line with U.S. sanctions originating from Executive Order 13338, signed by President George W. Bush in 2004 and expanded as conflict engulfed Syria in 2011. The update, effective throughout August 2025, now enables Syrian businesses and advertisers to reenter the digital marketplace, provided they complete Google’s standard account verification and restoration processes.
"In August 2025, the Google Ads Legal Requirements policy and the Understanding Country Restrictions help center page will both be updated to reflect the removal of Syria from the US Office of Foreign Asset Control sanctions list," the company stated in its official update. For years, Syria was grouped with other sanctioned territories—Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics—leaving it digitally isolated from global advertising networks. With Syria’s removal, only five such regions remain on Google’s restricted list.
Restoring access is not as simple as flipping a switch. Advertisers and publishers whose accounts were suspended due to the Syrian sanctions must now undergo a manual review and verification process. This includes providing documentation of business registration, identity confirmation, and compliance with Google’s updated terms of service. While those who operated accounts from outside Syria during the sanctions period may regain access more quickly, accounts flagged for Syrian operations face a more involved restoration process, with timelines still undisclosed by Google. The company’s support teams will process these requests through its standard appeal procedures.
The reopening of Google’s advertising platforms to Syria is expected to have a significant impact on the country’s digital landscape. Despite years of conflict and infrastructural damage, Syria maintains an estimated internet penetration rate of 34%, with mobile internet usage particularly prevalent. This presents fresh opportunities for both local businesses aiming to reach domestic consumers and international firms seeking to connect with Syrian diaspora communities. As digital advertising spending in neighboring markets like Lebanon, Jordan, and Turkey has surged in recent years, industry observers are watching closely to see if Syria can follow suit.
Google’s updated policy means Syria will now appear as a selectable target within Google Ads’ geographic targeting options. Campaigns set to "All countries & territories" will automatically include Syrian users unless specifically excluded. Advertisers can now leverage standard demographic and interest-based targeting, as well as location-based features like local inventory ads and proximity targeting—capabilities that could prove transformative for Syrian retailers and service providers seeking to attract customers in a rebuilding economy.
But with opportunity comes responsibility. Google emphasized that its global advertising policies, including restrictions on dangerous products, misleading content, and inappropriate material, will apply fully to Syrian campaigns. Automated systems will monitor for policy violations, and advertisers must comply with the same rigorous standards enforced elsewhere. While Google has not published Syria-specific content guidelines, the company’s global policy framework is expected to address most regional compliance needs, including sensitivity to local cultural and legal norms.
Behind these technical and policy changes lies a broader story of economic recovery and international cooperation. As of August 17, 2025, Dr. Abdul Qader Al Hasriya, Governor of the Central Bank of Syria, affirmed ongoing efforts to enhance monetary stability and rebuild the banking sector. In an interview with Qatar News Agency, Dr. Al Hasriya described how the Central Bank of Syria is working closely with Qatar Central Bank to develop national payment systems, attract investment, and boost confidence in the Syrian economy. “Qatar has been and continues to be a key partner and an effective supporter of the Syrian people and the national economy,” Dr. Al Hasriya said, crediting Qatari expertise in oversight and digital transformation as pivotal in stabilizing Syria’s monetary sector.
The partnership extends beyond expertise. Qatar, alongside Saudi Arabia, recently contributed approximately $15 million toward settling Syria’s debts to the World Bank Group—a move Dr. Al Hasriya described as having “symbolic and political significance that goes beyond its financial value.” He emphasized that such support, coupled with the exchange of technical and professional expertise, is fueling a broader economic renaissance and comprehensive reconstruction efforts.
Dr. Al Hasriya also highlighted the Central Bank’s focus on monetary stability, institutional reform, and the development of new banking legislation. Notably, the Syrian pound’s exchange rate has improved by about 35%, and the bank is working to fully develop national payment systems ahead of opening the sector to private investment and innovative financial services. “The new economic policy avoids resorting to commercial loans or borrowing from global financial markets,” Dr. Al Hasriya said, emphasizing a preference for attracting foreign investment and using development funds to avoid future debt crises.
The lifting of U.S. sanctions in May 2025 has also revived efforts to reconnect Syrian banks to the global financial system, including the SWIFT network. Dr. Al Hasriya stressed the importance of economic diplomacy, anti-money laundering systems, and updated legislation to build trust with foreign banks and investors. “The bank plays a pivotal role in strengthening the banking sector, expanding the correspondent network, licensing new banks, addressing liquidity problems, and reforming the exchange rate system, thus providing investors with stability and the ability to repatriate their profits and capital,” he told QNA.
One concrete example of this economic renewal is the revival of a real estate financing project, developed in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance, which allows tenants to convert rent payments into home ownership. The initiative aims to encourage the return of displaced persons and foster family stability—an urgent priority in a country still grappling with the consequences of war.
As Syria reopens to global digital advertising and banking innovation, challenges remain. The country’s infrastructure, though improving, still faces significant hurdles, particularly in terms of reliable internet connectivity and regional disparities in service quality. Google’s content delivery network and mobile-first advertising tools may help bridge some of these gaps, but sustained progress will require ongoing investment and policy support.
For now, the removal of Syria from Google’s sanctions list stands as a rare bright spot in the region’s tumultuous recent history. It signals not only the possibility of renewed economic engagement but also the potential for technology and international cooperation to help rebuild a nation—and reconnect it to the world.
