Karam Shaar
I am an economist with a BA from the University of Aleppo, an MSc from the University of Putra Malaysia, and a PhD from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. I founded Karam Shaar Advisory Limited with the goal of bringing cutting-edge policy and business research to the Syrian context. Additionally, I serve as a Nonresident Senior Fellow at the New Lines Institute and the Chief Economic Consultant at the Resident Coordinator’s Office of the UN in Damascus.
I was previously a Senior Consultant at the World Bank, a Nonresident Scholar at the Middle East Institute, a Senior Analyst at the New Zealand Treasury, and a Senior Lecturer on Middle East Politics at Massey University. My extensive travels have taken me to many countries, and before settling in New Zealand, I lived in Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Malaysia.
I grew up in a beautiful Ottoman house in Aleppo. As the uprising began in 2011, I became actively involved in the civil movement against the Assad regime. Years later, our family home was barrel-bombed, and my family and I sought refuge across five different countries while the regime remained in power.
Since regaining access to Syria following Assad’s downfall in December 2024, I have remained optimistic about the country’s future. The road to liberty and prosperity is still long—but perhaps that’s why Cast Away, a story of survival, perseverance, and eventual return, is my favorite film. We each see the world through the lens of our experiences; I invite you to take a look through mine.
Who Are We ?
Karam Shaar Advisory is a New Zealand-based limited-liability consulting company. We focus on Syria’s economy and politics, covering topics ranging from macroeconomics, monetary economics, energy, aid, conflict economics, actor mapping, and sanctions. Our services are tailored to meet the needs of international organizations, governments, NGOs, and the private sector.
Led by Dr. Karam Shaar, who has over a decade of experience in the field, the stellar team has in-depth and unparalleled knowledge of the Syrian context, with skills ranging from economic and political research to data analysis, field assessment, KYC, OSINT, programming, and AI-driven analytics.
We know how to influence policy and produce quality research recognized and published by world-leading think tanks and media outlets. With a team spanning various control areas within Syria, Türkiye, Lebanon, New Zealand, the United States, France, and Germany, we never lose the connection to the ground and know first-hand the needs of those trying to empower Syrians abroad.