Imad al-Shehada, director of services at the Syrian Postal Corporation, told Enab Baladi how parcels can be sent from Syria to 150 countries, explaining how shipping charges are calculated and which transport routes are used.

His comments follow the recent resumption of the service after a suspension lasting more than 13 years, and coincide with the corporation’s participation in Universal Postal Union (UPU) meetings in Switzerland on Friday, October 30.

Syrian Post resumed international parcel shipments in early October, after restarting incoming parcel services in July. The corporation said these steps aimed to reconnect Syria’s postal sector with the global network and expand cooperation with international postal operators.

How Are Parcel Charges Calculated?

Al-Shehada said parcel charges depend on several factors, primarily the cost of air transport from Syria to the destination country, which varies according to distance and international rates. Other factors include payments to destination countries under UPU rules, operating costs and the approved profit margin.

The payments to destination countries cover handling, transporting and delivering incoming international parcels. Accounts between countries are settled at the end of each year through a clearing system, according to al-Shehada.

According to the published official rate tables, shipping costs range from 1,350 to 5,600 Syrian pounds for the first kilogram. Each additional kilogram costs between 320 and 3,060 pounds, depending on the destination country.

For example, the first kilogram costs 2,630 Syrian pounds to send to Lebanon, 2,420 pounds to Jordan and 3,900 pounds to Germany, according to the table published on Syrian Post’s official platforms.

Transport Routes and Regional Partners

According to al-Shehada, Syrian Post relies on Syrian Airlines to transport mail to destinations the airline currently serves, including Jeddah, Riyadh, Dubai, Sharjah, Doha and Kuwait.

For parcels bound for countries Syrian Airlines does not serve, the corporation works with regional partners, including postal operators in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. It is also holding talks to bring in new partners and expand the destinations covered by the service.

Delivery times depend on flight schedules and frequency. For example, there are two flights a week to Doha and three to Dubai, according to al-Shehada.

He said senders can track their parcels using a barcode from the moment they hand them over until delivery to the recipient.

Sending a Parcel

According to Syrian Post’s announcement, the maximum permitted parcel weight ranges from 20 to 30 kilograms, depending on the destination. Senders must submit between two and four customs declarations.

Additional charges may apply depending on the type and value of the contents and the customs regulations in the destination country.

Home delivery is available in some countries, while in others recipients must collect their parcels from a post office.

Al-Shehada added that parcels can be sent through any post office in Syria. The sender provides the parcel and the recipient’s full address. A postal employee then weighs the parcel and presents it to customs before calculating the charges.

Since resuming international parcel shipments in October, Syrian Post has announced on its official platforms that it dispatched its first batch of parcels to destinations including the Netherlands, Qatar, Sweden, the United States, Germany, Nigeria and Algeria.

Incoming Parcels From Seven Countries

Although parcels can be sent from Syria to more than 100 countries, Syria has received parcels from fewer than ten countries.

Al-Shehada said this depends on whether the countries themselves wish to send parcels to Syria.

He said Syria is ready to receive parcels from the UPU’s approximately 192 member countries.

Since the service resumed, Syria has received parcels from Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, the United States, Qatar, Iraq and Jordan.

Syria Participates in UPU Meetings

The resumption of the service coincided with Syrian Post’s participation in the second session of the UPU’s Council of Administration, held in the Swiss capital, Bern, from October 26 to 30.

The Syrian delegation was headed by the corporation’s director general, Imad al-Din Hamad.

Participants discussed maintaining postal services, developing networks and strengthening e-commerce, alongside expanding cooperation among member postal operators.

Syria’s participation forms part of efforts to resume international postal services and expand cooperation with postal operators in UPU member countries.