The year 2025 marked a period of intensified regulatory and investment activity in Syria’s financial sector, as the Syrian Commission of Financial Markets and Securities (SCFMS) worked to strengthen a safe, transparent investment environment and support stability and growth in the national capital market.
Legislative Boost to Revitalize the Market
Throughout the year, the Commission focused on developing modern regulatory frameworks aimed at attracting investors and restoring confidence. It completed several key draft laws, most notably the Investment Funds Law, designed to diversify financial instruments available in the market.
Regulatory updates also included amendments to corporate governance rules, measures to facilitate foreign investment, the licensing of brokerage firms, and regulations governing dealings with international stock exchanges. These steps reflect a broader effort to align Syria’s capital market with regional and global standards.
Effective Oversight and Enhanced Disclosure
The SCFMS maintained active oversight, with the Board of Commissioners issuing 90 regulatory decisions and imposing six penalties on violating entities. By the end of 2025, the number of registered public shareholding companies reached 51, with 45 actively traded.
To strengthen transparency, the Commission reviewed and published 139 periodic financial disclosures and 97 emergency disclosures. It also issued 34 governance reports, reinforcing investor confidence in the accuracy and integrity of market data.
Elevated Performance Indicators and Record Dividends
Market performance indicators showed notable improvement, with total market capitalization rising by 37% compared to the previous year, reaching approximately 25 trillion Syrian pounds (SYP) by the end of 2025.
Company performance translated into unprecedented dividend distributions. Bank of Syria and the Diaspora approved bonus shares at a rate of 300 percent while Syriatel distributed cash dividends amounting to 8,840 percent, reflecting strong profitability among leading listed firms.
Strengthening Infrastructure and Regional Integration
On the infrastructure side, the Commission approved capital increases for six joint-stock companies totaling 128 billion SYP. It also renewed the licenses of six brokerage firms and 57 of their licensed employees, and approved 24 external auditors.
Regionally, the SCFMS maintained active participation in meetings of the Union of Arab Securities Authorities and the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI), underscoring its commitment to regulatory integration and best practices.
By the close of 2025, the achievements of the Syrian Commission of Financial Markets and Securities had laid a solid foundation for a new phase of capital market development, reinforcing its role as a key pillar of the national economy during reconstruction and long-term growth.
