20-05-2025
Did McDonald's open its first branch in Syria amid sanctions lift?
ALABWABA - Following the sanctions lift on Syria, a restaurant based in Qamishli posing as McDonald's, the popular US fast-food chain, has gone viral on social media. Over the past two days, videos of the trending restaurant flooded social media, but people were quick to slam the false rumors circulating online.
The restaurant isn't an actual McDonald's, but a spoof that borrows from the fast-food giant's branding, using Kurdish letters for a satirical touch and to avoid copyright laws.
"MçDonald's Qamishlo" doesn't offer customers the fast food giant's signature meals, but instead, it serves local food dishes like shawarma and international kitchen meals, including pizza and burgers. Did McDonald's open its first branch in Syria amid the sanctions lift?
McDonald's has been targeted in boycott calls from pro-Palestine activists in the Middle East after several organizations like the BDS Movement labeled it a supporter of the ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza. If the fast food giant were to open its first-ever restaurant in Syria, it might also be met with protests and boycott calls, like several countries in the region.
Both the US and the EU recently made headlines after lifting their sanctions on Syria, prompting celebrations across the country for its economic benefits.
The decision was made during US President Donald Trump's recent visit to the Middle East, where he met Arab leaders such as Saudi Arabia's Mohamed Bin Salman, Qatar's Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, UAE's Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Syria's Ahmed al-Sharaa.
The sanctions lift will open doors for more international brands to enter Syria's market after years of Assad's regime and war.
