overview
Syrian Arab Republic
country information
Flag
capital
Damascus
DRIVING SIDE: Right
INTERNET CODE: .sy
TIME ZONE: UTC +3
COUNTRY TEL CODE: +963
COASTLINE: Borders on Mediterranean Sea (180 km)
Neighbours
Lebanon
Turkey
Iraq
Jordan
Israel
population
19 million
religion
Islam 92.8%
Christianity 5.2%
Other <7%
president & parliament
Head of State: Bashar al-Assad
Prime Minister: Imad Khamis
Ruling Party: Baath Party
minority & majority groups
Arab (Sunni) (50%), Alawite (Shia) (15%), Kurd (10%), Levantine (10%), Other (incl. Druze, Ismaili, Imami, Nusairi, Assyrian, Turkoman, Armenian) (15%)
LANGUAGE
Syrian Arabic
Hello: مرحبا Marhaba
Yes: اي ‘Ee
No: لا La
Thank you: شكرا Shukran
C U R R E N C Y &
E X C H A N G E R AT E
Syrian Pound (SYP)
1 USD = 515 SYP
1 ZAR = 29.25 SYP
Subject to change
VACCINATIONS
No compulsory vaccinations
Recommended: Hepatitis A & B, Typhoid, Cholera, Yellow Fever, Rabies, Meningitis, Polio, Measles, Mumps & Rubella (MMR), Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria & Pertussis), Chickenpox, Shingles, Pneumonia & Influenza
ELECTRICITY
Voltage Requirements:
220 V
Standard Frequency:
50 Hz
Power plugs & sockets are of type C, type E and type L
Electricity not 24/7 everywhere
Frequent Load shedding
TEMPERATURE
Winter: min. 8 °C – max. 16 °C
Summer: min. 21 °C – max. 30°C
DIPLOMATIC TIES / AIRPORTS / CARRIERS / NGO’S
EMBASSY / CONSULAR PRESENCE
South Africa Embassy in Damascus, Syria
Al-Ghazaoui Street
7 Jadet Kouraish
West Mezzeh
PO. Box 9141
Damascus
Syria
Head of Mission:Mr S. E. Byneveldt, Ambassador
Refer to:
https://www.embassypages.com/southafrica-embassy-damascus-syria
(+963) 11 6135 1520
(+963) 11 6139 8910
MAIN AIRPORT(S)
Aleppo International Airport
Bassel Al-Assad International Airport
Damascus International Airport
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Valid Passport with min. 60 days remaining until expiry date with sufficient pages (minimum 2 blank pages) for entry and exit stamps
According to DIRCO (still to be tested) South Africans can now obtain a visa for Syria at any Syrian Embassy worldwide
Travellers with Israeli stamps in their passports will not be granted entry into Syria
DOMESTIC FLIGHTS & CARRIERS
Syria Air (http://syriaair.com/) had a fleet size of 15 aeroplanes, flying to 20 destinations.
Due to the war, flights were abandoned both internationally and domestically. Flights are currently from Jordan, Egypt, Dubai and Qatar but the best option remains to fly to Lebanon and drive to Damascus (less than two hours).
NGO’S OPERATING IN COUNTRY & CONTACT DETAILS
The following website lists 46 NGOs in Syria ranging from advocacy, animals, development to relief and education: www.arab.org
SNA (http://www.syrianna.org/en) is another coalition of non-governmental Syrian organizations supporting and leading humanitarian activities inside Syria and neighboring countries.
Last Updated 18 May 2020