Gulf

Fordow: Deep Inside Iran’s Nuclear Core

Deep in the Iranian mountains, near the holy city of Qom, lies one of the most heavily guarded nuclear facilities in the world: the Fordow uranium enrichment site, a pivotal hub of Iran’s nuclear program. Shielded by the Mountain Buried nearly 90 meters beneath solid rock, the Fordow facility symbolizes Tehran’s nuclear determination and ...

All-Risk Insurance in Wartime

While Lebanon remains officially neutral in the military escalation between Israel and Iran, it is already feeling the first economic tremors. Rising regional tensions are starting to weigh on the insurance sector, particularly in maritime and air transport, as well as war-related coverage, all of which rely heavily on reinsurance. Premiums in ...

Lebanon Hoped for Tourists and Got War Instead

Tourism, a vital sector that accounted for over 20% of Lebanon’s GDP before the 2019 crisis, was poised to provide a much-needed boost to the country’s battered economy. Following Eid al-Adha, hotel occupancy rates in Beirut surged to 80%, signaling a bright season ahead. “We had a surge of bookings for the next two weeks, but they’re ...

Strait of Hormuz: Is Iran Ready to Gamble with Global Energy Stability?

As the Middle East flares up amid mounting tensions between Iran and Israel, one urgent question dominates global attention: Is Tehran ready to close the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial lifeline for the world’s energy supply? On Friday night, Emmanuel Macron sounded a stark warning. In a statement, the French president cautioned, “We must brace ...

Can Ahmad al-Sharaa Deliver on His Anti-ISIS Policy?

Ahmad al-Sharaa, once a senior figure in the jihadist group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has emerged as a central player in post-Assad Syria. Since taking power in December 2024 in a country ravaged by 13 years of war, Sharaa has positioned himself as a pragmatic and reform-minded leader, both to foreign governments and Syria’s deeply ...

Lebanon’s Real Estate: The Cautious Return of Arab Investors

During the first nine months of 2024, a total of 26,430 property transactions were recorded — an increase of 118% compared to 2023, according to well-informed sources. This surge is largely attributed to the resumption of land registry services after a prolonged administrative paralysis. The total value of sales reached nearly $1.85 billion. ...

IMF: Three Billion to Bury 85 Billion? No, Thank You.

The International Monetary Fund wants to lend $3 billion to Lebanon. On paper, it’s an "opportunity" to get a devastated country back on its feet. In reality, it’s a cruel joke. Lebanon is staring into an $85 billion abyss - a gaping hole dug by decades of mismanagement, clientelism, and public governance as cynical as it is incompetent. In ...

From Syria to Ukraine: The Gulf as the New Hub of Global Diplomacy (2/2)

https://thisisbeirut.com.lb/articles/1315328/from-irans-nuclear-program-to-gaza-the-gulf-as-the-new-hub-of-global-diplomacy-12  On Tuesday, May 13, US President Donald Trump was received with great ceremony in Riyadh by Saudi Crown Prince and de facto ruler Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), marking the first stop on a tour of immense geopolitical and ...

Gulf Surge in Registrations for Lebanon AI Conference 2025

Lebanon's 2025 Artificial Intelligence Conference is witnessing an unprecedented wave of interest from Gulf countries, with organizers announcing on Wednesday a sharp rise in registration requests from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and other GCC nations. This surge of Gulf engagement comes as Lebanon resumes high-level diplomatic and cultural ...

Rasamny-UAE Delegation Explore Infrastructure Cooperation

In a demonstration of growing bilateral ties and shared development goals, the Minister of Public Works and Transport, Fayez Rasamny, conducted a site visit Wednesday to Beirut International Airport (BIA) and the Port of Beirut, accompanied by a high-level delegation from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Emirati delegation included senior ...

‘Tripoli, Yes We Can:’ How Diaspora and Reform Fuel Economic Revival

Under the patronage of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, the third edition of the “Tripoli, Yes We Can” conference took place at the Beirut Arab University Tripoli campus on Monday. Bringing together political decision-makers and Lebanese diaspora representatives, the event aimed to map out a bold vision for national economic recovery – extending ...