The Syrian Future Movement is closely following the government’s efforts to streamline administrative procedures and enhance the business environment, most recently exemplified by the opening of the “One-Stop Shop” center at the Port of Latakia on Thursday, July 9, 2026.
The Syrian Arab Standards and Metrology Organization (SASMO) also launched its “One-Stop Shop” service on June 23, 2026, while the Investment Authority is working to activate the system to facilitate procedures for investors.
While the Syrian Future Movement appreciates these initial steps, it believes the greatest challenge remains the full and comprehensive implementation of this system across all governorates and service transactions in Syria. This is considered a fundamental pillar for achieving good governance, enhancing transparency, and building a modern service-oriented state that prioritizes the citizen.
The Syrian Future Movement commends these steps, which aim to consolidate various services in one location, save time and effort, reduce bureaucracy, strengthen institutional coordination, and improve operational efficiency. We highly appreciate the statement by the Director General of the Investment Authority, Talal Al-Hilali, that the Authority is working to improve transparency, expedite processes, and activate the One-Stop Shop system to facilitate procedures for investors.
We also see these steps as embodying the vision of a “New Syria” by adopting modern technology to develop government performance, enhance transparency and efficiency, and break with the legacy of bureaucracy and corruption left by the ousted regime.
The Syrian Future Movement notes that many Arab and regional countries have made significant progress in implementing the One-Stop Shop system. The United Arab Emirates, for example, offers an advanced model through its “Unified Digital Window,” which provides access to nearly 3,000 government services.
Saudi Arabia and Jordan have also implemented advanced models to facilitate customs and investment procedures.
The Syrian Future Movement concludes from these experiences that success requires three essential elements:
First, a strong political will at the highest levels that adopts digital transformation as a strategic choice.
Second, legislation and laws that obligate all entities to participate in the unified system.
Third, investment in training, capacity building, and modernizing the technological infrastructure.
The Syrian Future Movement draws attention to the fact that the “One-Stop Shop” initiative at the Companies Directorate, which opened on July 31, 2025, has been accompanied by significant challenges, as documented in field reports.
While some clients praised the clarity of the procedures and the flexibility of the service, others criticized the long waiting times, the shortage of staff and equipment, and the system’s requirement for clients to book a separate appointment for each step of their transaction.
The reports also documented instances of disruption due to staff absences and the reliance of some departments on a single individual to complete essential tasks.
Therefore, the Syrian Future Movement emphasizes that these challenges, while expected in any transitional phase, indicate that success is not limited to opening new buildings. It requires a comprehensive overhaul of the institutional culture, a radical improvement in staff efficiency, and a genuine investment in digital infrastructure.
We further stress that the continuation of these challenges without addressing them could undermine the system’s credibility and transform it from a tool for facilitating services into an additional burden on citizens.
Based on its national responsibility, the Syrian Future Movement recommends the following:
- Extending the “One-Stop Shop” system to all Syrian governorates without exception, and not limiting it to Damascus and its surrounding countryside or to only certain vital facilities, following the example of the Investment Authority, which is working to establish branches in the governorates to ensure access to services for all citizens and achieve equitable distribution of services.
- Expanding the scope of services offered through the One-Stop Shop to include all government transactions, from company registration and commercial registration to customs services, standards and specifications, and municipal and civil services, according to the “Comprehensive One-Stop Shop” model, which aspires to evolve into an integrated system.
- Launching an intensive training and development campaign for the personnel working in the One-Stop Shop centers to ensure efficient performance, speed of completion, and excellent customer service, in line with international best practices in this field, and to address the staffing shortage identified in field reports.
- Adopting an integrated electronic system to link all relevant entities and developing a unified digital platform that allows citizens and investors to track their transactions electronically, reducing the need for in-person visits, similar to the unified digital window experience in the UAE and the electronic linking system implemented at the port of Latakia.
- Establishing an independent oversight and monitoring mechanism, comprising representatives from the government, the private sector, and civil society, to monitor the performance of the One-Stop Shop centers, measure performance indicators, address complaints, ensure transparency, and prevent corruption, following the models of successful countries.
The Syrian Future Movement affirms that the One-Stop Shop system is a comprehensive vision for building a modern service-oriented state that places the citizen at the heart of its concerns, facilitates their life, and strengthens their trust in state institutions.
We call on the Syrian transitional government to build upon the steps achieved and work towards the full and comprehensive implementation of this system, making it a model to be emulated in the region and a practical embodiment of the vision of a “New Syria” based on efficiency, transparency, and justice.
