UK’s Syria Sanctions Update: A Step Toward Rebuilding and a Timely Reminder for Compliance Teams

On 24 April 2025, the UK Government announced significant amendments to its Syria sanctions regime. These changes, effective from 25 April 2025, aim to support the Syrian people’s efforts to rebuild their country and economy following the fall of the Assad regime. 

Photograph by Amr Abdallah Dalsh / Reuters

The amendments include lifting restrictions on 12 entities, such as the Syrian Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Interior, as well as certain media outlets. This move is designed to facilitate essential investment in Syria’s infrastructure and economy, particularly in sectors like financial services and energy production.

Importantly, sanctions against individuals associated with the former regime and those involved in illicit activities remain in place, ensuring accountability while promoting progress.

For compliance professionals, this development underscores the dynamic nature of sanctions regimes. It’s crucial to ensure that sanctions compliance programmes are adaptable and up to date.

Key considerations for compliance teams:

• Policy Flexibility: Ensure your sanctions policies can accommodate such changes without compromising compliance.

• System Updates: Verify that your screening systems are updated promptly to reflect the latest sanctions lists.

• Staff Training: Regularly train staff to recognise and respond to changes in sanctions regimes effectively.

At Coventium, we specialise in helping firms navigate the complexities of sanctions compliance. If you need assistance in reviewing or updating your sanctions compliance programme, please email us at: contact@coventium.com