Syria Sees Rise in Dental Tourism Amid Post-War Recovery and Changing Clientele

Syria is experiencing a resurgence in dental tourism as visitors seek affordable dental treatments, including some Jews who left during the civil war and now return for visits. While dental tourism in Syria is not new, the profile of patients has shifted significantly. Under former President Bashar al-Assad, many Shia Muslims from Iran and Iraq traveled to Syria for dental care, but under the current regime of President Ahmad al-Sharaa, these groups are no longer welcome. Instead, Syria is targeting new clients as it recovers from years of conflict.

Rita Badran, a fifth-year dental student and tour guide, told Israeli media that Syrian doctors have long held a strong reputation, having established hospitals worldwide and treated diverse patients. However, the healthcare sector deteriorated during Assad’s rule and the civil war, with many doctors emigrating. Those who remained continued to provide quality care at low costs. Badran noted that during Assad’s time, Iranian and Iraqi Shia patients flooded clinics, especially in Damascus’s Sayyida Zainab area, attracted by prices as low as $1,000 for a "Hollywood smile." Many even married Syrian women to maintain access.

The civil war severely disrupted medical services, but doctors gained extensive experience treating war injuries despite limited supplies. Since Assad’s fall, many clinics closed due to the departure of these foreign patients, but Badran views this as positive, emphasizing that Syria is safer without Iranian militias. Although salaries remain low and Syria is not fully open to international patients, some Syrians abroad and others familiar with Syrian dental quality are returning for treatment.

Badran also volunteers free dental care for those unable to afford it. Among current dental tourists are members of the Syrian Jewish community who visit for dental work and to reconnect with their heritage. Bokhor Simantov, one of the last Jews in Damascus, said most Jewish visitors come for implants, dental repairs, tourism, and remembrance. They visit kosher-friendly hotels, the Jewish quarter, synagogues, and cemeteries, often renewing passports with his assistance.

Syria’s dental tourism reflects broader post-war recovery efforts, with affordable, quality care attracting a new generation of patients despite ongoing challenges.