Damascus, Jan. 18 (SANA) Some Google services have begun to return to Syria following changes related to U.S. sanctions, according to Syria’s communications minister.
Syrian Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdulsalam Haykal said on Saturday that users in Syria can now access the Google Play Store without using a virtual private network, adding that most Google platforms are expected to become available nationwide in the coming weeks.
In a post on the social media platform X, Haykal said the ministry is working with international technology companies to accelerate the process. He added that about 40 Syrian engineers employed by Google are involved in addressing technical and regulatory requirements.
Haykal said the restoration of Google services requires legal and procedural approvals, followed by technical adjustments, testing, and a phased rollout.
The ministry, he said aims to ensure the orderly return of international digital services to improve Syria’s technology sector and user access.
Google removed Syria from the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctions list last year, allowing the company to resume certain services, including advertising, for the first time since restrictions were imposed in 2004 and expanded in 2011.
