Syrian Arab News Agency S A N A
Washington, SANA-Google announced on Sunday the removal of Syria from the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctions list, allowing the resumption of advertising services in the country for the first time since the restrictions began in 2004 and were significantly expanded in 2011.
According to the company’s official policy update, this “change covers multiple advertising platforms, with updates to the legal requirements policy for Google Ads and the Help Center page to reflect Syria’s removal from the OFAC sanctions list. This adjustment marks a significant development in digital marketing accessibility in the Middle East.”
Google stated that publishers and advertisers previously affected by Syrian sanctions will be required to recover their accounts through the company’s standard verification procedures. Suspended accounts due to geographic restrictions will be manually reviewed before service restoration. Support teams will process recovery requests according to approved appeal procedures.
According to Google’s policy, Syria’s reintegration into its advertising ecosystem provides access to a population of approximately 22 million, representing a major expansion in digital marketing reach across the Middle East. Internet penetration in Syria is estimated at around 34 percent.
The company believes Syria’s return to the advertising ecosystem aligns with broader regional digital transformation initiatives and coincides with infrastructure rebuilding efforts and economic stabilization measures. Neighboring markets have seen significant growth in digital advertising in recent years, indicating potential demand for similar services within Syria.
Minister of Communications and Technology, Abdul Salam Haykal, announced that a team from the ministry is working daily with representatives of the U.S. government and tech companies to implement the removal of Syria from the list of restricted countries.
MHD Ibrahim
