The Syrian Future Movement is following with great interest the launch—on Sunday, November 1, 2026—of a project by the Ministry of Industry, Internal Trade, and Consumer Protection to modernize and digitize business registration and real estate records in Syria. The initiative is being carried out in partnership with the U.S. Department of State and the firm Creative Associates International.
With an estimated budget of approximately one million dollars and a six-month implementation timeline, the project is set to benefit around 500,000 investors and companies. It also includes the digitization of nearly 500,000 real estate records through the establishment of five digital transformation centers, in cooperation with the Ministry of Local Administration and Environment.
The Syrian Future Movement views this project as a fundamental step toward digital transformation and the simplification of procedures for investors. It addresses one of the most significant obstacles frequently cited by businesspeople: the complexity of registration processes and their fragmentation across various government directorates.
The Syrian Future Movement notes that the project extends beyond business registries to encompass real estate and property records—a highly significant development. Updating land records enhances transparency, administrative efficiency, and public trust, while fostering a clearer, more stable environment for reconstruction and responsible investment.
The Syrian Future Movement also commends the project’s focus on building national capacity; it includes training for over 1,000 employees and trainees, aimed at equipping ministry staff to manage the new systems and ensure their long-term operational sustainability.
Ultimately, the Syrian Future Movement considers the integration of real estate and business digitization with capacity-building to be a comprehensive approach worthy of praise, as it simultaneously addresses both digital infrastructure and human resources.
The Syrian Future Movement reaffirms its consistent positions—as published on its official website—which have long advocated for digital transformation as an essential requirement for building a modern economy:
In a statement titled “Opening of ‘Tech Town’ in Damascus,” dated July 14, 2026, the Syrian Future Movement praised the initiative, noting that it “provides an integrated environment to support startups, foster digital transformation, and attract investment in the technology sector.”
In a statement titled “Opening of the ‘Single Window’ Center in Latakia,” dated July 11, 2026, the movement emphasized the importance of “its comprehensive implementation in streamlining procedures and promoting good governance in Syria.”
In a statement titled “Launch of the ‘Invest in Aleppo’ Platform,” dated September 20, 2025, the movement welcomed the initiative but stressed that it serves only as “an initial step—insufficient on its own unless complemented by structural reforms” to improve the business environment.
The Syrian Future Movement views the project to digitize real estate and commercial registries within this same context; it represents a continued push toward the digitization of government services. However, the movement notes that such efforts require a form of national sustainability that goes beyond reliance on foreign funding and partnerships.
Ultimately, the Syrian Future Movement maintains that the project’s success will be measured by its ability to endure beyond the period of external support, its alignment with existing Syrian legislation, its capacity to safeguard investor data, and the extent to which small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are able to benefit from it. The Syrian Future Movement notes the following:
First: Financial and Technical Sustainability – The project is being implemented with American funding (one million dollars) over a fixed six-month period. This raises questions regarding future funding sources for the maintenance and updating of the platforms once this support concludes.
The Syrian Future Movement asks: Has the Ministry prepared a plan to ensure the project’s self-sustainability after the funding ends, or will its continuation depend on further external support?
Second: The Need to Enforce Existing Data Protection Legislation – The digitization of millions of documents, investor data, and real estate records renders the platform a potential target for cyberattacks.
The Syrian Future Movement points out that Syria already possesses Law No. 12 of 2024 concerning the protection of electronic personal data. This law aims to “ensure legal protection for individuals’ personal data and safeguard their privacy,” and it stipulates financial penalties of up to 12 million Syrian pounds, as well as prison sentences of up to three years.
The Syrian Future Movement calls for the activation and application of this existing law to the project—rather than seeking to develop a new framework from scratch—as a law that exists without actual implementation offers only theoretical protection.
Third: Legislative Alignment – The digitization of real estate and commercial records necessitates updating the laws governing registration to align with electronic procedures, while ensuring legal recognition for digital signatures and electronic records. Fourth: Benefits for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) – While the project targets 500,000 investors and companies, SMEs—which constitute the vast majority of the economic fabric—may face difficulties in navigating the digital platform if they are not provided with training programs and technical support.
The Syrian Future Movement emphasizes that digitalization must not become a new barrier for small-scale investors.
Acting upon its national responsibility, the Syrian Future Movement recommends the following:
First: Develop a national plan for the financial and technical sustainability of the project. This should include identifying future funding sources for the maintenance and updating of the platforms, integrating the project into the state’s general budget, and designating a national entity responsible for its management once external support concludes—thereby ensuring the project does not cease when funding ends.
Second: Implement Data Protection Law No. 12 of 2024 in relation to the project. This entails requiring the platform to adhere to the protection standards stipulated by the law, activating the specialized authority tasked with issuing licenses and monitoring data exchange, and enforcing penalties for any violations—moving beyond mere legislative text toward active implementation.
Third: Expedite the modernization of legislation governing real estate and commercial registration to align with electronic procedures. This should ensure legal recognition for digital signatures and electronic records, while removing any legal obstacles that might hinder the project’s implementation.
Fourth: Launching training and technical support programs for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)—in collaboration with chambers of commerce and industry and the private sector—to ensure they are capable of using the electronic platform, and to prevent digitalization from becoming a barrier. …new opportunities for small-scale investors.
Fifth: Enhancing transparency in the project’s implementation by publishing periodic reports on progress, the number of digitized companies and real estate records, and user satisfaction rates. Furthermore, making data accessible to the public and investigative journalists is essential to ensure the project achieves its stated objectives.
The Syrian Future Movement welcomes the launch of the project to digitize real estate and commercial records, viewing it as a strategic step toward modernizing the Syrian economy and improving the business environment.
However, the Syrian Future Movement emphasizes that digitization is not an end in itself, but rather a means to serve investors and citizens. Its success should not be measured by the number of digitized documents, but by its ability to simplify people’s lives, protect their data, attract investment, and function sustainably without perpetual reliance on external support.
The Syrian Future Movement asserts that building a new Syria requires a fair, sustainable, and legally protected digitization process—one that addresses the digital divide between urban and rural areas, as well as between large corporations and small businesses.
For its part, the Syrian Future Movement will continue to support initiatives that foster digital transformation and transparency, critique obstacles to development, and monitor progress on the ground—all in pursuit of a new Syria that offers every investor a fair, transparent, and sustainable business environment.
