Syria's Tourism Boom Gets Boost from Cross-Border Payment Super App
The Syrian government has launched its first integrated tourism and lifestyle super app, My Syria, which went live on July 30, 2026. Developed by UAE-based company 121 Living, founded by Rami Kaiem, Feras Kaiem, Waseem Qudmani, and Kinan Madi, the platform supports cross-border digital payments through Apple Pay, Google Pay, Visa, Mastercard, and American Express.
The launch comes as Syrian tourism is experiencing a surge in popularity. According to the Ministry of Tourism, there were 3.52 million visitor arrivals in the first half of 2026, a 111% increase from the same period in 2025. The app currently connects users with eight service categories, including hotels, restaurants, transport, tourist attractions, food delivery, and lifestyle services.
The payment capability is the most significant feature of the launch, enabling merchants to accept cards and digital wallets from international visitors directly. This expands their addressable customer base and brings them into compliance-ready infrastructure that can underpin future lending, insurance, and financial services layers.