Syriatel (Arabic: سيريتل) is one of two mobile network providers in Syria, the others being MTN Syria. Syriatel offers LTE with 150 Mb/s speeds, under the brand name Super Surf. It is headquartered on Sehnaya Road in Damascus.

History

Former logo from 2006 until 2024.

Syriatel was founded in January 2000, with its headquarters in Damascus, Syria. The Government licenses two private companies to supply mobile phone services, Syriatel and "94". Orascom provided the management. The license with the Government was a Build-own-transfer (BOT) contract for 15 years.

In 2011 the European Union imposed sanctions on Syriatel in order to intensify pressure on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

In 2017 Syriatel introduced 4G speeds offering 150 Mb/s speeds, branded Super Surf. On 5 June 2020, a Syrian court ordered Syriatel be placed under judicial custody.

Ownership

Board of Directors

As per official disclosure (15 February 2026) for the period ending 31 December 2025.

  • Executive President / CEO: Murid Sakhr Al-Atasi
No.NameRoleRepresented EntityOwnership %
1Ahmed Yahya MaqsoumaChairman of the Board of DirectorsAl-Bayaz Private Joint-Stock Company (شركة لابياز المساهمة المغفلة الخاصة)18.39%
2Malek Mahmoud Al-JayyoushVice Chairman of the Board of DirectorsSibrit Private Joint-Stock Company (شركة سيبريت المساهمة المغفلة الخاصة)18.39%
3Mohammad Safwan Sari Al-HusamiBoard MemberFreedom Private Joint-Stock Company (شركة فريدوم المساهمة المغفلة الخاصة)19.64%
4Waddah Ghalib Hafez KayyalBoard MemberSample Private Joint-Stock Company (شركة سامبل المساهمة المغفلة الخاصة)11.41%
5Rami Mouaffak SawanBoard Member (Authorized to Sign)Independent (مستقل)0%

History

When the company was founded in 2000, Syriatel was owned by the Egyptian telecommunications company Orascom (25%) and Rami Makhlouf (75%), a cousin of then-Syrian president Bashar al-Assad. In 2003, Orascom sold its ownership in Syriatel.

Until the fall of the Assad regime, the company was owned by Rami Makhlouf. The company had approximately 3,500 employees and 8 million customers as of 2016.

As of 2025, major shareholders include Ahmed Yahya Maqsouma (18.39%) and others, per official disclosures, reflecting diffused post-Makhlouf ownership amid ongoing economic reconfiguration.

Technologies

Syriatel operate a network of GSM 900 / 1800 & 3G 2100 & 4G 1800 cellular networks.