سعر الدولار اليوم في سوريا: تحسن الليرة وتحديات اقتصادية مستمرة

The dollar exchange rate in Syria remained stable on Saturday, December 21, 2024, reaching new levels in parallel markets, reflecting an improvement in the Syrian pound following recent political changes.

Dollar Exchange Rate in the Black Market

In Damascus, the dollar was trading at 14,000 Syrian pounds for buying and 15,000 pounds for selling. The rates were similar in Aleppo and Idlib. In the eastern region (Hasakah), the dollar was at 13,000 pounds for buying and 14,000 pounds for selling, a level not seen in years.

As for other foreign currencies, the euro was trading in the Damascus black market at 14,563 pounds for buying and 15,608 pounds for selling, while the Turkish lira was at 397 pounds for buying and 428 pounds for selling.

Dollar Exchange Rate in Banks

In banks, the official exchange rate was 12,500 pounds for the dollar, with the euro at 13,148.23 pounds.

Despite the visible improvement in the Syrian pound after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's regime, Syria’s economy still faces significant challenges following years of economic decline. The pound has lost over 90% of its value since 2011. The central bank’s gold reserves are estimated at 26 tons, while foreign currency reserves are below 200 million dollars.

Syria’s Economic Challenges

Syria's GDP has dropped from $67.5 billion in 2011 to $9 billion in 2021, while inflation exceeded 200% in 2023, according to World Bank data. Despite the apparent improvement, the black market still plays a dominant role in determining exchange rates, as more than half of financial transactions occur through it, leading to an unofficial increase in the dollar’s value.

Experts’ Views on Syria’s Economic Recovery

In this context, financial expert Adli Qandah noted that political stability and peaceful transitions in Syria could restore confidence in the Syrian economy, opening the door for international support through aid and investments while reducing inflationary pressures. He emphasized the importance of implementing economic reforms to boost local production and exports.

Financial expert Ziad Al-Hashimi, on the other hand, stated that the recent improvement in the exchange rate reflects the end of previous monetary policies that lacked real support from hard currency or gold. He added that transitioning to a free-market economy could lead to gradual improvement in the value of the Syrian pound, provided that the new authorities take decisive steps to improve the economic situation.