I used to rent cars from Europcar in Syria from 1998 until January 2008. During this time Europcar Syria was a kind of a joint-venture company partly owned by the Syrian state and a private Syrian company NAHAS. Unfortunately, this company has been closed in February or March and a new private company has got the license from EUROPECAR to be their agent in Syria. I booked a car before coming to Syria on Europcar's website and registered my name, address, AMEX credit card number etc. and I received the confirmed booking reference number. When I arrived at Damascus Airport, to my big surprise, there was no one from Europecar waiting me. I spent two hours searching for them and found the Europecar representative (speaking only Arabic !!) in the office of the Airport Manager!!! I waited another hour for the car as it was parked 1 km from the arrival terminal and I spent another hour signing the local rental contract! I was told that they do not accept the American Express card and asked me to visit their office in Damascus and pay cash or with VISA card. I must say, I do not understand how could EUROPECAR sign an agreement with a local Syrian company which has no experience at all in car rentals, have only Arabic speaking employees and is so totally unprofessional in dealing with tourists. I have been a EUROPCAR's customer during the last 10 years, but I will never rent a car from the Europecar's agent in Syria, a company called: MARATON T&T ( Maraton Travel and Tourism)!!! Europcar Syria has the most expensive car rental rent of approx. USD 200 per day!!! It looks like the owner of Maraton wants to get reach quickly, but he needs customers to continue its rent a car business in Syria. He has lost already one customer for ever!