After the Syrian government took over his administration.. new crossing rules at the Simalka crossing

The Syrian General Authority for Ports and Customs announced a number of new facilities for travelers through the "Simalka" border crossing with Iraq, including  the complete cancellation of entry and exit fees for Syrian citizens.

On the other hand, the Authority clarified that the rules in force for non-Syrian travelers will still require obtaining an official entry visa, stressing that the situation of Syrian citizens will not witness negative changes in terms of mobility procedures.

New administrative structure to ensure business continuity

In the context of organizing the field work, the Director of Relations at the Authority, Mazen Alloush, revealed the appointment of a new department to supervise the crossing, which includes about 200 employees, with the appointment of specialized supervisors and the director general of the border facility.

Alloush pointed out that a number of former employees have been retained to ensure the smooth work and not disrupt the interests of passengers, explaining that the crossing has not turned into an "international crossing" in the legal sense, but has been integrated into the Authority's work system to unify regulatory procedures.

The Reality of "Doubling Customs" and Standardizing Tariffs

In response to rumors circulating about rising costs, Alloush categorically denied what was circulating about doubling tariffs on goods.

He explained that what happened was the application of the "unified tariff" in force at all Syrian border crossings without exceptions, with the aim of regulating trade operations and preventing conflicts in financial procedures between one crossing and another.

The Simalka crossing is a vital strategic point linking northeastern Syria to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Over the past years, the crossing has been under self-administration and has been a major artery for the passage of humanitarian aid, the movement of people, and limited trade.

The move to transfer the management of the crossing to the authority of the Syrian government and unify its customs procedures comes within a broader context aimed at restoring state sovereignty over border crossings and unifying fiscal and tax policies, which may reflect on the stability of commodity prices and the movement of travelers in areas linked to the crossing.