Gulf

Lebanon’s Tourism: The Endless Summer That Fails to Deliver

Christiane Tager, 19/06 23:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Gulf Israel Middle East tourism economy lebanon

Since June 13, the travel sector in the Middle East has faced severe turbulence following clashes between Iran and Israel. And as always, Lebanon — true to its role as the region’s perennial bystander in the wrong place at the wrong time — ends up paying the price, once again caught in the center of the storm. “The sector has suffered ...

Tehran’s Shadow Arsenal: Chemical, Biological and Radiological Threats

Mario Chartouni, 19/06 21:30 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Tehran Gulf Israel Middle East nuclear

Despite Iran’s largely nominal commitments to international treaties, mounting evidence suggests the existence of an active or developing chemical, biological and radiological weapons program. Long-sidelined concerns are resurfacing as regional tensions escalate, and a Damoclean sword hangs over the mullah’s regime. On one side, Israel claims ...

Gulf States on Iran's Doorstep Scramble for End of War

This is Beirut, 19/06 10:10 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Gulf Donald Trump Hamas Israel Middle East

As Iran and Israel trade strikes and the US weighs joining in, wealthy Gulf states on the conflict's doorstep are engaged in frantic diplomacy to halt the war -- but solutions remain elusive. A spillover of the conflict or the Iranian government's collapse are both worrying outcomes for the energy-rich region, which hosts several major US ...

Fordow: Deep Inside Iran’s Nuclear Core

Mario Chartouni, 17/06 20:30 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Donald Trump Gulf Israel Tehran US Secretary of State

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

Liliane Mokbel, 17/06 19:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Gulf Israel Middle East lebanon

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

Christiane Tager, 16/06 22:40 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

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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?

Liliane Mokbel, 15/06 14:40 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Gulf Israel Strait of Hormuz Iran economy energy

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?

Alexandre Baz, 14/06 15:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Emmanuel Macron Damascus Gulf Turkey United States

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

Christiane Tager, 06/06 11:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Baalbeck Gulf Real Estate Lebanon Property

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.

Marc Saikali, 29/05 11:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

International Monetary Fund Europe Gulf Hezbollah

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)

Malo Pinatel, 29/05 11:00 - Reading : 6 minute(s)

Gulf Ukraine Donald Trump United Arab Emirates Hamas Saudi Arabia MBS

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 ...

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