ExplainerAbolish the Syrian-Lebanese Higher Council Immediately!

Maurice Matta 12/12 10:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Banks Beirut Port Damascus Hezbollah Middle East

Syrian presence in Lebanon dates back to 1976, a year after the outbreak of the Lebanese civil war. Syrian forces entered Lebanon as part of the Arab Deterrent Forces, and the Syrian government successfully cemented its presence. This was later consolidated by the Arab League mandate under the Taif Agreement, signed on October 22, 1989, which ...

Will Southern Lebanon Ever Be Safe for Farming Again?

This is Beirut 11/12 19:45 - Reading : less than a minute

South Lebanon

Thousands of dunams were burned, livestock were lost and farmlands were destroyed. The war dealt a severe blow to Lebanon’s agricultural sector, further crippling an already fragile economy.

Lebanon’s Commercial Sector: Adapting to Change and Looking Ahead

This is Beirut 11/12 18:10 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Banks Hezbollah Israel trade

The armed conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has severely impacted Lebanon's commercial sector, which continues to face significant challenges while preparing for the future. Despite the ongoing recovery process, the sector remains resilient. In this context, Nicolas Shammas, President of the Beirut Traders Association (BTA), organized a major ...

Cooperation Initiative Between the Association of Lebanese Industrialists (ALI) and NGOs

This is Beirut 11/12 17:45 - Reading : less than a minute

The Association of Lebanese Industrialists (ALI), led by Salim al-Zeeni, has launched a new initiative in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO) to connect the capabilities of Lebanese industrialists with the needs of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working to assist displaced populations. The initiative aims to ...

Zara owner Inditex posts new record profit

This is Beirut 11/12 13:24 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Zara owner Inditex posted another record quarterly profit on Wednesday as strong online and in-store sales gave the world's biggest fashion retailer a boost. The Spanish group, whose other brands include Massimo Dutti, Pull & Bear and Bershka, reported a profit after tax of 1.68 billion euros ($1.77 billion) for the third quarter, up six percent ...

TGS Secures 3D Seismic Survey License for Block No. 8

Christiane Tager 11/12 10:49 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Israel Lebanon TGS Seismic

The license granted by the ministry allows TGS to conduct a comprehensive 3D seismic study spanning 1,300 square kilometers, making Block No. 8 the only block among Lebanon's ten offshore blocks to undergo such a survey for the first time. In his address, caretaker Minister of Energy Walid Fayad described this development as a pivotal milestone ...

Cumulative Decline in Real GDP Since 2019 to Over 38% According to WB

This is Beirut 10/12 22:40 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

World Bank Lebanon

According to the latest World Bank (WB) report on Lebanon’s economy (LEM), published on Tuesday, Lebanon’s real GDP growth was reduced by approximately 6.6% in 2024 due to the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, bringing the cumulative decline in real GDP since 2019 to over 38%. This growing contraction reflects the devastating impact of ...

Syria, Rebuilding the Future

Liliane Mokbel 10/12 16:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Syria Reconstruction Caesar Act

According to estimates from various UN and international sources, Syria's reconstruction could yield benefits for all. However, these prospects remain uncertain and far from guaranteed. With the country still reeling from the war that followed the 2011 uprising, Syria's reconstruction is shaping up to be a lengthy and costly process, but it ...

ExplainerSyria Post-Assad – Day 1: Basic Necessities, Telecommunications and the Future of the Syrian Pound

Liliane Mokbel 08/12 13:10 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Syria Economy Bashar el Assad

Following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime, Syria is left with a crumbling economy, shaped by decades of state control and average wages barely surpassing $40 per month. The country’s economic prospects now depend largely on the removal of American and Western sanctions, as well as financial assistance from the international community. ...

Record S&P 500 and Nasdaq on Wall Street, Thanks to US Employment Figures

This is Beirut 07/12 14:05 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Economy New York Wall Street

The Nasdaq and the S&P hit fresh records on Friday after the November US jobs report came in better than expected, with the Dow edging down. The world's biggest economy gained 227,000 jobs in November, up from a revised 36,000 in October, according to the Department of Labor. "It's kind of being viewed as a Goldilocks jobs print," Tom Cahill ...

Numbers & FiguresFigure of the Week: Hotel Occupancy in Beirut Drops Below 10%, Regions Near 0%

Liliane Mokbel 07/12 12:00 - Reading : less than a minute

tourism beirut hotels

The hotel occupancy rate in Beirut has fallen below 10%, while in other regions, it is approaching 0%, according to Pierre Achkar, president of the Union of Syndicates of Tourist Establishments in Lebanon. "Arab countries continue to boycott Lebanon, and European nations do not anticipate a swift return of their citizens. A mandatory waiting ...

Rebuilding Lebanon: A Path to Economic Revival

This is Beirut 07/12 10:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Lebanon Economy Reconstruction

This is probably the reality Lebanon will have to face. With the end of the war, the countdown has begun, including an assessment of damages estimated at $6 billion and the initiation of reconstruction. The productive and economic sectors will have the opportunity for a significant recovery, starting with the laying of the cornerstone on the site ...