- Programme
- Syria
- Designated
- Not published by this authority
- Legal basis
- Ordinance of 8 June 2012 on measures against Syria (SR 946.231.172.7), article 10 paragraph 1 (Financial sanctions) and article 17 paragraph 1 (Travel ban), annex 7
- Stated grounds
- Leading businessperson operating in Syria benefitting from and supporting the former al-Assad regime. Owner of multiple businesses and holding companies with interests and activities in various economic sectors such as real estate, the luxury hotel industry and commercial centres. Waseem al-Kattan rose rapidly as a leading businessperson by imposing taxes on goods smuggled into Eastern Ghouta under siege, and is now involved in aggressive forms of clientelism to the benefit of the former al-Assad regime. Waseem al-Kattan benefits financially from favoured access to public tenders as well as to licences and contracts awarded by government agencies as a result of his close ties to the former al-Assad regime. In 2020, al-Kattan was elected member of the Damascus Chamber of Commerce. In November 2021, al-Kattan was appointed secretary of the Federation of Syrian chambers of commerce by the Syrian Government, despite having lost elections. In 2022, al-Kattan was appointed Chairman of the Syrian-Omani Business Council.
- Source
- Switzerland SECO Sanctions List
- Last confirmed
- 19 Oct 2026