A Syrian man stranded in legal limbo in Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur airport for seven months has been granted asylum by Canada.

Hassan al-Kontar’s plight was likened to that of the character played by Tom Hanks in the 2004 film The Terminal, with Mr Kontar sharing pictures on social media giving himself a haircut in the toilets and eating donated airline meals.

Mr Kontar, from Damascus, was banned from entering Malaysia over a visa issue and was prohibited from travelling on to other countries.

He had left Syria before the war, in 2006, and was working in the United Arab Emirates as an insurance marketing agent. However, his work permit expired in 2011 – the year the Syrian civil war started.

After the Syrian embassy refused to renew his passport, Mr Kontar stayed illegally in the UAE fearing he would be drafted into the army.

"I know I look like someone who ran from the… Middle Ages. I’m sorry for that," the smiling 36-year-old said in a video he posted on his Twitter account Monday.

"For the last eight years, it was hard, long journey. The last 10 months, it was very hard and cold.

“Tomorrow, I will be reaching my final destination: Vancouver, Canada,” he said during a layover in Taiwan on Monday. “I could not do it without the help of my family – my Canadian friends and family and my lawyer. Thank you all. I love you all,” he said.

Mr Kontar’s lawyer said his client was recognised by Canada as a refugee and was granted permanent residency under the country’s refugee sponsorship programme.

"We were of course very pleased that Malaysia appeared to agree and abide by international law," Andrew Brouwer said.

It is understood his case was taken up by Laurie Cooper, a media relations consultant in Whistler, Canada, who privately sponsored Mr Kontar after crowdfunding more than $13,600.  

Since 2015, more than 14,000 Syrian privately sponsored refugees have resettled in Canada.

He was trapped in a section of a budget terminal without restaurants or shops, and was forced to sleep under stairwells and shower in a disabled toilet.

Mr Kontar used his social media accounts to document the absurdity of his situation, posting increasingly frustrated posts as the months went on.

His online following grew as thousands sent him messages of support.