Google Restores Ads to Syria After 20 Years of Ban

Google has officially announced the resumption of its advertising services in Syria, after a halt that lasted since 2004 due to U.S. sanctions.

This announcement comes as part of a new update to the company's legal policies regarding international advertising (Google Ads Legal Requirements & Country Restrictions), which removed Syria from the list of banned countries.

The new update allows advertisers in Syria to once again access "Google Ads", "Ad Exchange", and "Ad Manager", meaning a broader use of digital advertising platforms within the country after years of interruption.

This change is due to a decision issued by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, which announced at the end of June 2025 the cancellation of the economic sanctions program that had been imposed on Syria since 2004.

The decision came into effect at the beginning of July 2025, including the lifting of most economic and financial restrictions, while maintaining specific sanctions against former President Bashar al-Assad and several of his associates, along with entities involved in terrorism and smuggling cases.

This decision is expected to bring a qualitative shift in the Syrian market, as it is likely to contribute to the expansion of digital services, stimulate e-commerce activity, and create new opportunities for advertisers and investors after many years of digital and economic isolation.