Ahmed al-Sharaa Unveiled New Banknotes as Interim President

Key facts

• Ahmed al-Sharaa, the interim President of Syria, introduced the country's new banknotes at a ceremony in Damascus to replace political imagery with agricultural symbols.
• Abdul Qader Hosriya, the Governor of the Central Bank, announced that the currency exchange process will be completed within 90 days.
• The new currency, which enters circulation on 1 January, features denominations of 10, 25, 50, 100, 200, and 500 Syrian pounds following the removal of two zeros.
• Bashar al-Assad, who ruled Syria for nearly 25 years, was ousted and fled to Russia in December 2024.
• Hafez al-Assad, the father of the ousted leader, ruled the country from 1971 until his death in 2000.
• Syria's official news agency (SANA) reported that the new currency design is an expression of national identity and a move away from the veneration of individuals.