Information for Travelers

Currency

Western Union Transfer Money Service through the Commercial Bank of Syria

(August 19, 2003)

The Commercial Bank of Syria has begun a Western Union "Receive Money" service, which allows individuals to receive transfers of funds from abroad. The overseas transfers can be made in any hard currency, although funds may only be disbursed only in Syrian pounds. This service is available through a number of branches of the Commercial Bank of Syria as well as the local Western Union office.

For further information, please contact Western Union at: 963-11-334-5555 (phone), 963-11-334-6666 (fax), or online at http://www.westernunion.com.

ATM Service in Syria
(September 29, 2003)

The Real Estate Bank (a state-owned enterprise) now offers limited ATM service at multiple locations in Damascus and other cities. The service is available through automatic transaction machines, but offers only a cash advance (in Syrian pounds only) on Master Card or Visa credit cards, or on the locally-issued "Syria Card." The ATMs provide other banking services to Real Estate Bank customers only.

The Real Estate Bank offers cash advance ATM services at 8 locations in Damascus and 4 locations in Aleppo; it plans to open ATMs at additional locations. In addition to the fee charged by your credit card company, the Real Estate Bank charges a transaction fee that is a percentage of your withdrawal.

The Commercial Bank of Syria also has plans to add ATM service, but that service is not offered at present.

As of October 5, 2003, Real Estate Bank ATMs are located at:

Damascus:
Kasaa next to French hospital *
Next to Ministry of Foreign Affairs *
Abu Rummaneh, near the crowd of restaurants *
Muhajereen end of road *
Mashroua Dummar opposite of Samar Al Cham *
Dar Al Mouhandisin
City Hall
Next to Ministry Council
Harika
Sit Zainab
Damascus International Airport
Real Estate Bank, next to Cham Palace hotel
Marjeh square *
Damascus International Fair (airport road) *
Cham Palace hotel
The water establishment *


Aleppo:
Hotel Amir, next to the Chamber of Commerce
Shahba garden opposite of Al Tawhid Mosque
Opposite of Financial Control next to Razi hospital
Aleppo International Airport
Shahba hotel *

Al Nabek:
The garden of Qalamoun hospital *

Deir Ezzor:
The new Real Estate Bank, Aleppo Street opposite of the women's union garden. *

* Opening in future