Sarmada grew from a small town beside the Bab al-Hawa crossing into a commercial hub for import distribution, according to a Carnegie study from June 2021. MIDTRANS handles freight to Syria by sea, road and air with customs clearance, and reviews Sarmada shipments case by case.
Sarmada is in the far north-west of Syria, about 30 km north of Idlib city and about 7 km west of al-Dana, close to the Bab al-Hawa crossing on the Turkish border. Its population was estimated at about 15,000 before 2011; Carnegie put it at around 130,000 in June 2021.
The town works mainly as an import and distribution centre rather than a production centre. Import and trading firms, customs-clearance companies and warehouses form much of its business base, and Arabic sources note that its location has supported trade since early times.
Sarmada beside the Turkish border in Idlib Governorate. Tap to enlarge the map×
Sarmada beside the Turkish border in Idlib Governorate.
Economy
A distribution economy
Sarmada links north-west Syria with Turkish and wider markets as a commercial hub (Carnegie, June 2021).
Import and trading firms, customs-clearance companies and warehouses make up its business base.
The town distributes imported goods rather than producing them in volume.
Its location has made it a place of commercial activity since early times.
Known for
Sarmada is known for
Import and wholesale distribution
Column of Sarmada, a 2nd-century Roman tomb
Nearby Dead Cities sites
Freight access
Getting freight to Sarmada
Only about 6 km separate Sarmada from Bab al-Hawa, the nearest crossing with Turkey by road; crossing status and permitted cargo are checked for each shipment. By sea, cargo can come through Latakia port, about 157 km by road, or Tartus port, about 225 km, while freight from the Gulf and Jordan via Nassib travels about 460 km. Figures are approximate road distances from OpenStreetMap.
Nassib crossing (Jordan): about 460 km
Nearest crossing with Türkiye (Bab al-Hawa): about 6 km
Port of Latakia: about 157 km
Port of Tartous: about 225 km
Distances are approximate road distances calculated from OpenStreetMap road data. They are a planning guide; the route for each shipment is confirmed before booking.
Shipping to Sarmada?
Send the cargo details, origin and delivery address, and the route and documents are reviewed before booking.
About 6 km by road. Bab al-Hawa is the nearest crossing with Turkey; crossing status and permitted cargo are checked for each shipment.
Why is Sarmada a trading town?
A Carnegie study from June 2021 describes it as a commercial hub linking north-west Syria with Turkish and wider markets. Its business base is import firms, customs-clearance companies and warehouses.
Which port is nearer to Sarmada, Latakia or Tartus?
Latakia port, at about 157 km by road; Tartus port is about 225 km. The port is chosen for each shipment according to route and cargo.
How far is Sarmada from the Nassib border crossing?
About 460 km by road, the distance covered by overland cargo from the Gulf and Jordan.
Does MIDTRANS handle customs clearance for Sarmada shipments?
MIDTRANS handles customs clearance in Syria and freight by sea, road and air. Requests for Sarmada are reviewed case by case for route, documents and delivery.
How do I request a shipping quote to Sarmada?
Use the quote form with the goods, weight or volume, origin and delivery point in Sarmada. The team checks the route and documents before sending an offer.
