Syria is seeing renewed interest from investors, businesses, and travelers as the country continues its recovery. While rebuilding roads, hotels, and public infrastructure remains a priority, digital services are also beginning to play a larger role in supporting tourism and economic activity.
Against this backdrop, UAE-based Syrian entrepreneurs have launched My Syria, describing it as the country’s first tourism super app. The platform is designed to do more than help visitors find places to stay or things to do.
It aims to bring together attractions, restaurants, accommodations, transportation, local businesses, and travel information in one place, creating a single digital entry point for anyone planning to explore Syria.
Syria’s Tourism Industry Is Finally Entering a New Phase
Before the civil war, Syria was one of the Middle East’s established tourism destinations, welcoming more than 8.5 million visitors in 2010.
However, the conflict that began in 2011 brought the industry to a standstill. As violence spread across the country, visitor numbers fell sharply, hotels closed, tourism businesses shut down, and many historic sites became inaccessible.
Now, Syria is placing tourism at the center of its economic recovery plans. Over the past year, international sanctions have eased significantly, creating new opportunities for investment, business partnerships, and private sector growth. Government officials are also working to restore confidence in the country’s tourism sector by promoting cultural heritage, improving infrastructure, and encouraging both regional and international visitors to return.
As tourism activity begins to recover, digital platforms are expected to play an important role in making travel easier and more accessible. Apps like My Syria can help travelers discover destinations, plan their trips, connect with local businesses, and access reliable information, supporting the country’s broader efforts to rebuild its tourism industry.
What Is My Syria?
My Syria is a tourism and lifestyle super app developed by 121 Living, a UAE-based company founded by Syrian entrepreneurs Rami Kaiem, Feras Kaiem, Waseem Qudmani, and Kinan Madi.
The platform is designed to give travelers and residents a single place to discover hotels, restaurants, tourist attractions, transportation, food delivery, and other lifestyle services across Syria.
The app was officially launched under the patronage and in the presence of H.E. Mazen Al-Salhani, Syria’s Minister of Tourism. Developed with the strategic support and supervision of the Ministry of Tourism, the initiative reflects the government’s focus on using digital technology to improve visitor experiences and modernize the country’s tourism sector.
One of the platform’s biggest differentiators is its payment infrastructure. My Syria is the first tourism platform in Syria to support secure cross-border digital payments through Apple Pay, Google Pay, Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. This allows international travelers to pay using familiar payment methods while helping Syrian tourism businesses reach a broader global customer base.
More Than a Tourism App
The launch of My Syria also reflects the growing role of the Syrian diaspora in the country’s recovery. Despite years of conflict, many Syrian entrepreneurs have continued building businesses and maintaining strong connections with their home country. The UAE has become one of the largest hubs for Syrian entrepreneurs, making it a natural base for launching initiatives that support Syria’s next phase of growth.
Instead of waiting for global travel platforms to enter the market, these founders are building digital infrastructure themselves. My Syria is an early attempt to change how visitors discover destinations, plan trips, connect with local businesses, and experience Syria through technology.
As tourism gradually returns and investment in the sector continues to grow, the success of platforms like My Syria will depend on user adoption, partnerships with local businesses, and the country’s broader tourism recovery. Whether it becomes Syria’s leading tourism platform remains to be seen, but its launch marks an important step in the country’s digital transformation.
