This study examines the impact of cognitive social capital on entrepreneurial orientation among SME business owners in Syria. Drawing on a sample of 381 SMEs, the research employs a linear regression analysis to explore the relationship between various dimensions of cognitive social capital (shared knowledge, shared values, shared beliefs, and shared understanding) and entrepreneurial orientation. The results indicate that each dimension of cognitive social capital has a significant positive relationship with entrepreneurial orientation, accounting for approximately 27% of the variance in entrepreneurial orientation. These findings highlight the importance of fostering shared mental models and understanding among SME business owners in the challenging Syrian environment. The study contributes to the literature on social capital and entrepreneurship by providing empirical evidence of the positive impact of cognitive social capital on entrepreneurial orientation in a unique context. The results have significant implications for entrepreneurs and policymakers in Syria, emphasizing the potential benefits of investing in the development of cognitive social capital to promote entrepreneurship and economic development.