Return of 17,000 Syrians from Turkey: Following the Fall of the Assad Regime
January 20, 2025, 9:48 am

Return of 17,000 Syrians from Turkey: Following the Fall of the Assad Regime

باب السلامة

The movement of Syrians holding temporary protection cards in Turkey returning to their country through border crossings continues, as they seek permanent stability after relatively favorable conditions have been established following the fall of the Assad regime.

The Bab al-Salama border crossing with Turkey has seen a notable increase in the number of Syrians returning voluntarily, coinciding with the return of many Syrians through other crossings such as Bab al-Hawa in northern Idlib.

The Syria TV website visited the Bab al-Salama crossing to observe the return procedures. The General Authority for Land and Maritime Ports reported that the number of Syrians returning from Turkey to Syria through this crossing during the current month of January has reached around 8,000 individuals. The authority confirmed that this return is part of a larger movement that began after the fall of the Assad regime, with statistics indicating that approximately 17,000 Syrians have returned to their homeland so far through the crossing.

The authority explained that returnees are subjected to organizational procedures aimed at facilitating their return and ensuring the safety of the process. These procedures include document checks to verify the identity of returnees and their affiliation with the Syrian Arab Republic, as well as formal registration and the provision of all possible facilities to ensure their safe and smooth return.

Earlier, Turkish Minister of Trade, Omar Polat, mentioned that around 40,000 Syrians returned to their homeland in December 2024 through Turkish crossings, with this figure including more than 27,941 individuals via the "Cilvegözü" (Bab al-Hawa), "Zıtın Dalı" (Bab al-Salama), and "Yayladağı" (Kessab) crossings in Hatay, in addition to others who returned through different border crossings.

Turkish Interior Minister, Ali Yerlikaya, also indicated that the number of Syrians residing in Turkey under "temporary protection" is approximately 2 million and 920 thousand and 119 individuals, adding that 25,000 Syrians returned to their country voluntarily and safely within a 15-day period.

For his part, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, announced that around 200,000 Syrian refugees have returned to their homeland since the beginning of December 2024, amid the changes that followed the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

Biden: The Situation in Syria and Lebanon Has Improved After Ending Iranian Influence Trump Prepares for His Second Inauguration Amid Exceptional Circumstances

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.