This news release is issued to publicise the addition of nine entries under the Syria sanctions regime.
The Syria (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 have effect in the Isle of Man by the Sanctions (Implementation of UK Sanctions) Regulations 2024 ('the Regulations'), which are made under the Sanctions Act 2024. This regime imposes financial, trade, aircraft and immigration sanctions for the purpose of encouraging the Syrian regime to refrain from actions, policies or activities which repress the civilian population in Syria and to participate in good faith to reach a negotiated political settlement to bring about a peaceful solution to the conflict in Syria.
Individuals and entities who are designated under this regime are included on the UK Sanctions List.
Types of sanctions applicable under this regime:
- Asset freeze
- Investment, financial services and financial markets
- Trade
- Immigration
- Aircraft
On 19 December 2025 the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office updated the UK Sanctions List. This list provides details of those designated under sanctions legislation.
Addition
Nine entries have been added to the UK Sanctions List and are now subject to an asset freeze. Further information can be found in the Annex to this Notice.
What you must do in relation to additions
If, through your sanctions compliance programme, you identify a possible match to a person or entity included in the Sanctions Lists, and you hold or otherwise deal with funds or economic resources of that person:
- You must immediately freeze any assets you hold or otherwise deal with belonging to that person (assets includes funds and economic resources, owned directly or indirectly by that person)
- You must review the information you hold for that person against the Sanctions Lists to establish whether you have a true match or a 'false positive' (see section 8 of the Financial Sanctions General Guidance)
- Where a true match is confirmed, do not deal with those assets or make them available to, or for the benefit of the designated person unless:
- You have a legal exemption
- You have a licence
- You must report the frozen assets to the FIU
If you have a suspicion or knowledge that there has been a breach of sanctions law, or any attempted transactions that you have blocked, report your suspicions to the FIU.
Failure to comply with financial and trade sanctions legislation or to attempting to circumvent its provisions is a criminal offence.
Where a relevant institution has already reported details of accounts, other funds or economic resources held frozen for the designated person, you are not required to report these details again.
Further Information
Further information on the sanctions regime related to Syria and other sanctions related guidance can be found on the Sanctions and Export Control website on the Sanctions Guidance page.
Contact details for enquiries
If you require any further information or guidance, please contact the Sanctions Team on:
Telephone: +44 1624 648109
Email: sanctions@gov.im
Please note: We are unable to provide legal advice. You may need to seek independent legal advice.
