Many legal texts could only be read via unofficial mirrors; several official websites were not accessible. Marked statements are still to be verified. Which rule applies to you is clarified in the individual case.
Limited liability company (LLC)
At least two partners, liability limited to the contribution. By far the most common legal form in 2026.
- An LLC needs at least two partners. With one founder, the single-member LLC is an option. Verified against the legal text
Sources (2)
- Insurance, banking and savings business is prohibited by law for an LLC. Verified against the legal text
Sources (1)
- An LLC may not offer its shares for public subscription. Verified against the legal text
Sources (1)
- A holding company can only be set up as a joint-stock company. Official body
Sources (2)
- Whether a Syrian co-partner is needed where there are foreign partners is reported in conflicting ways. Register practice in 2025 shows LLCs that are wholly foreign-owned. Still to be verified. Conflicting sources – still to be verified
Sources (3)
- There is conflicting information on the maximum number of partners (no upper limit in the text of the law that was read; secondary sources state 50). Still to be verified. Conflicting sources – still to be verified
Sources (1)
- Your planned capital is below the minimum capital of 50 million old pounds stated in secondary sources (arithmetically 500,000 new pounds). An official determination in new pounds is not documented. Still to be verified. Secondary sources only – still to be verified
Sources (3)
- The capital is denominated in Syrian pounds. Payment within 30 days of the approval decision, or at least 40 % immediately and the remainder within one year, in each case with a bank receipt. Verified against the legal text
Sources (1)
- The appointment of an auditor must be attached to the formation application. Verified against the legal text
Sources (1)
Single-member limited liability company
An LLC with a single founder. Details are governed by ministerial regulations, whose current status is still to be verified.
- A single-member LLC has exactly one founder. Verified against the legal text
Sources (1)
- Older implementing regulations allowed non-Syrians as sole founders only for certain investment projects. Whether this still applies in 2026 is unconfirmed. Still to be verified. Unconfirmed – still to be verified
Sources (2)
- Older implementing regulations restricted the objects of a single-member LLC to one activity. Whether this continues to apply is unconfirmed. Still to be verified. Unconfirmed – still to be verified
Sources (2)
- Insurance, banking and savings business is prohibited by law for an LLC. Verified against the legal text
Sources (1)
- Under the older implementing regulations, the capital must be paid in full on formation. Continued validity unconfirmed. Unconfirmed – still to be verified
Sources (1)
Private joint-stock company
A company limited by shares with a board of directors, without public subscription. The mandatory form for holding companies.
- The sources give different figures for the minimum number of founders of a private joint-stock company (mostly three). The text of the law could not be checked. Still to be verified. Conflicting sources – still to be verified
Sources (1)
- The minimum capital of a joint-stock company is not officially documented; the information is conflicting. Still to be verified. Conflicting sources – still to be verified
Sources (1)
- A joint-stock company is managed by a board of directors. Details of its size and composition are still to be verified. Conflicting sources – still to be verified
Sources (1)
General partnership (tadamun)
At least two partners who are personally and jointly and severally liable.
- A general partnership needs at least two partners. Verified against the legal text
Sources (1)
- In a general partnership, all partners are personally and jointly and severally liable – this conflicts with your wish for limited liability. Verified against the legal text
Sources (1)
- According to the Ministry's information sheet, non-Syrian partners in a partnership need a work card. Official body
Sources (1)
- Public subscription is not provided for in partnerships. Secondary sources only – still to be verified
Sources (2)
Limited partnership (tawsiya)
At least one partner with unlimited liability and one or more limited partners.
- A limited partnership needs at least one general partner and one limited partner. Verified against the legal text
Sources (1)
- At least one partner has unlimited liability. Limited partners may not act in a management capacity towards third parties and may not appear in the firm name. Verified against the legal text
Sources (1)
- According to the Ministry's information sheet, non-Syrian partners in a partnership need a work card. Official body
Sources (1)
Sole trader (individual commercial register)
Not a company: a natural person registers their business in the commercial register and is personally liable.
- Only a single natural person can register as a sole trader. Verified against the legal text
Sources (2)
- A sole trader is personally liable – this conflicts with your wish for limited liability. Verified against the legal text
Sources (1)
- The individual register of a non-Syrian may not include import (exception: investment projects under the Investment Law). Official body
Sources (2)
- Registers with a non-Syrian owner may not include the representation of foreign companies or commercial agencies. Official body
Sources (2)
- Registration with the commercial register must take place within one month of opening or acquiring the business. Verified against the legal text
Sources (2)
Branch of a foreign company
The foreign company is registered in Syria and may carry on business through the branch.
- The general manager must be a Syrian, or a Syrian company with exclusively Syrian partners; a non-Syrian only with the Minister's approval. Verified against the legal text
Sources (2)
- The 2008 law required proof of the parent company's capital of at least 50 million old pounds. The amount applicable today is not documented. Still to be verified. Unconfirmed – still to be verified
Sources (2)
- The continued validity of the details of Law 34/2008 in 2026 is confirmed by secondary sources only. Still to be verified. Secondary sources only – still to be verified
Sources (1)
- All documents of the parent company must be authenticated by the Syrian embassy and the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and translated into Arabic by a sworn translator. Official body
Sources (2)
- Under the law, a decision on registration must be made within 30 days of a complete application. Verified against the legal text
Sources (1)
Representative or regional office
A presence without commercial activity: advertising, maintaining contacts, gathering information.
- Representative and regional offices may not carry on any commercial activity in Syria. For business of your own, a branch is an option. Verified against the legal text
Sources (1)
- The continued validity of the details of Law 34/2008 in 2026 is confirmed by secondary sources only. Still to be verified. Secondary sources only – still to be verified
Sources (1)
Activity in a free zone
Establishment via the General Establishment for Free Zones.
- The old investment regulations continue to apply to free zones; a new free zones law exists as a draft (as at 29 August 2026). Conditions in the individual case still to be verified. Secondary sources only – still to be verified
Sources (1)
- The free zones authority states six steps in around 15 working days: choice of site, allocation application, formal application, contract, commercial register, handover. Official body
Sources (1)
- Not every zone has free space; according to the authority, Damascus and Latakia were fully occupied in September 2026. Official body
Sources (1)
Additionally: investment licence
Licence from the Syrian Investment Authority under Investment Law 18/2021 as amended by Decree 114/2025.
- A decision on the investment licence must be made within 30 working days of complete documents and payment of fees. Verified against the legal text
Sources (1)
- Licensed projects must employ at least 60 % local workers; exceptions are possible on application. Verified against the legal text
Sources (1)
- The law provides for tax and customs advantages, the extent of which depends on sector and location. Verified against the legal text
Sources (2)
- Investor service centres serve as a single point of contact; they do not replace sector licences. Verified against the legal text
Sources (1)
- The full text of Decree 114/2025 was read only via a private archive. Check against the official text before making binding statements. Secondary sources only – still to be verified
Sources (1)
Translations are provided for understanding. The official Arabic original texts are binding.