A Little Piece of Haven: This Syrian Man's Story Will Inspire You

Many countries bid citizenship or residency programmes for foreign nationals in exchange for investment or property purchase. With few other options, Syrians who can afford these programmes – most of which have price tags ranging from the hundreds of thousands of dollars to millions – are being drawn to them as the instability in their homelands continue.

One Syrian, who lately secured a second citizenship, is Yaser Akkad, a 45-year-old Aleppo native who is an executive at an information technology firm based in Jeddah. A few years ago, Mr. Akkad was on a trip to England when he lost his passport. Knowing that Syria no longer had diplomatic representation in the United Kingdom, he panicked, putting advertisements in the local news and contacting the police.

Fronting a long and difficult process of getting a new Syrian passport in a country with no Syrian embassy, some people advised Mr. Akkad to apply for asylum in the UK or another European country. But as a successful executive who frequently travelled across the globe, he neither consider himself a refugee nor want to put his life on hold for a lengthy asylum process.

To his enormous relief, Mr. Akkad ultimately found his passport among his belongings. Nonetheless the experience shuddered him: in a world where Syrian passports open few doors and can be viewed with outright suspicion in many western countries, Mr. Akkad made his mind he needed a second citizenship.

“I realised that this passport that I have is not helping me carry on my business,” he said. Being Syrian was only an impediment.

He turned to Savory & Partners, the leading citizenship provider for quick, legal, second passport and citizenship programs, that help people get a second nationality and after a real estate investment, Mr. Akkad and his family were citizens of Saint Kitts and Nevis, a tiny two-island nation in the Caribbean. While little attention is paid to the country of less than 60,000 people, its passport is exceptionally strong, allowing visa-free travel to more than 130 countries.

“They’re good individuals who are in a situation where they need a second passport to find stability for their family, assets and business,” said Mr. Savory of his clients.

The five Caribbean states namely—Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis are relatively enticing choice for Syrian businessmen like Mr. Akkad, since it does not necessitate those looking to become citizens to live in the country for any set period. In fact, prospective citizens never even have to visit these early-mentioned countries.

“When your place is no longer safe, you need to fashion another one, in a decent way other than being a refugee.”
“The new passport has so far helped improved the business a lot, as one can now travel visa free to most countries around the globe; thus, save time and effort, concluded Mr. Akkad.

About Savory and Partners:

Savory and Partners is trusted by governments around the world. It’s the first CBI company approved by the five Caribbean states. Savory & Partners’ pedigree can be traced back more than 200 years to the establishment of British Royal Chemists Savory & Moore and its incorporation in 1794.
Savory & Moore chemists expanded to 60 pharmacies around the United Kingdom and continued to serve the Royal Family in the 20th century holding Royal Warrants for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh and Her Majesty, the late Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.

For all media related queries, please contact:
Hassan Mohammed,
Head- Corporate Communications,
Savory & Partners,
E-mail: hassan@savoryandpartners.com
Phone: +971 4 430 1717
Cell+971 56 2839976

This release was published on openPR.