Maysaa Sabrine has made history by becoming the first woman to lead the Syrian central bank, a significant milestone in its over 70-year existence. Appointed by Syria’s new leadership, Sabrine previously served as the deputy governor and has over 15 years of experience in the banking sector, which is crucial for overseeing the country's financial landscape. Her appointment follows the ousting of former governor Mohammed Issam Hazime, who was removed after a rebel offensive on December 8.

Sabrine holds a master's degree in accounting from Damascus University and is a certified public accountant. She has also been involved with the Damascus Securities Exchange since December 2018, representing the central bank. Under her leadership, the bank aims to liberalize the economy, moving away from extensive state control by removing pre-approval requirements for imports and foreign currency usage.

Despite these efforts, the central bank continues to grapple with substantial sanctions imposed by the United States and Western nations. In the wake of the recent leadership change, the bank has reviewed its assets following a period of looting that occurred during the upheaval. Notably, the bank's vaults reportedly hold approximately 26 tons of gold, maintaining the same amount as at the onset of the civil war in 2011. However, the foreign currency reserves have plummeted dramatically to around $200 million, down from roughly $18 billion before the conflict began (Al Jazeera, India Times).