OFFICIAL NAME:  Syrian Arab Republic.
CAPITAL: Damascus
AREA: 185.180 km2 (71.500sq. miles)
POPULATION: 18.866 millions ( 2002 census )
CLIMATE: A pleasant and varied Mediterranean climate with four distinct seasons.

AVERAGE TEMPERATURE:
32° C. (90° F) in Summer,
10° C. (50° F) in Winter and
22° C. (72° F) in Spring and Autumn.
TIME ZONE: November through February:   GMT + 2 Hours (Winter).
March through October:  GMT + 3 hours. (Summer).
ELECTRICAL CURRENT: 220 Volts, 50 A.C.
WEEKEND: Friday and Saturday are the official weekend.
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES: Metric system

Main cities and number of inhabitants in each governorate:
Damascus 3.8 million inh, Aleppo 4 million inh, Homs 1.5 million inh, Latakia 883 thousands inh, Hama 1.4 million inh, Tartus 716 thousands, Deir-ez-zor 1 million inh.

Telephone code:
Damascus 011, Nabk 012, Deir Ateya 012, Zabadani 013, Bloudan 013, Al-Qunaytra 014, Dar'a 015, Sweida 016, Aleppo 021, Raqqa 022, Jisr Shogour 023, Idleb 023, Homs 031, Palmyra 031, Hama 033, Latakia 041, Kurdahah 041, Jableh 041, Slenfeh 041, Kasab 041, Tartus 043, Banyas 043, Safita 043, Draykish 043, Mashta Helu 043, Deir-ez-zor 051, Hasakeh 052, Raselein 052, Malkieh 052, Kamishli 053.

Currency:
Currency Unit: Syrian Pound = 100 piaster
1 U.S. Dollar = 51 S.P.
Notes: 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000 S.P.
Coins: 1, 2, 5, 10, 25 S.P.