Syria has introduced redesigned banknotes from January 1, bringing into circulation a new series of currency that removes images of former leader Bashar al-Assad and his father Hafez al-Assad in a symbolic break with the past.
The new currency was formally unveiled by interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa at a ceremony in Damascus. It reflects a revaluation in which two zeros have been removed from existing bills and includes denominations of 10, 25, 50, 100, 200 and 500 Syrian pounds. The redesigned notes feature agricultural motifs such as roses, wheat, olives, oranges and mulberries, highlighting crops traditionally associated with Syria and replacing political imagery used on earlier issues. Al-Sharaa said the new currency marks the end of a previous phase and the beginning of a new chapter for the Syrian people.
Bashar al-Assad was ousted from power in Syria in December 2024 after months of intensified unrest and political pressure that culminated in the collapse of his government, ending more than five decades of rule by the Assad family. His removal marked a major political transition for the country, closing a chapter defined by prolonged conflict, international sanctions and economic isolation.
