A Home for $100,000: Housing Bank Boosts Loan Cap
Christiane Tager 27/06 21:20 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
The Housing Bank (Banque de l'Habitat, BDH) has raised the ceiling for subsidized housing loans to $100,000. No miracle here, just solid financing. “This increase from $50,000 to $100,000 was made possible by a funding package – currently under negotiation – granted by the Qatar Fund to the Housing Bank,” said BDH CEO Antoine Habib in a ...
Bitter Fruits, Pricey Greens: Lebanon’s Food Basket Feels the Heat
Christiane Tager 26/06 11:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
War Drought Fruit Vegetables Price
Think your tomatoes are overpriced? It’s not a pricing trick. It's the harsh reality of Lebanon’s agricultural market in 2025. Amid unpredictable weather patterns, ongoing conflict, soaring fuel prices, and fertilizer costs reaching unprecedented heights, the prices of fruits and vegetables have climbed to new levels. Ibrahim Tarchichi, ...
As War Recedes, Oil Prices Plunge and Markets Rally
Christiane Tager 24/06 22:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
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From Cold Sweats to Cooling Oil: Why Crude Prices Are Plunging After the Iran-Israel De-Escalation A bomb can send oil prices soaring – unless it doesn’t hit as hard as expected. That’s exactly what played out in the markets following Iran’s limited strike on a United States base in Qatar, followed by a surprise ceasefire between Tehran ...
Lebanon’s Tourism: The Endless Summer That Fails to Deliver
Christiane Tager 19/06 23:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
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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 ...
Economy on Hold: Lebanon Trapped in Other People's War
Christiane Tager 18/06 20:55 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
With regional tensions mounting, Lebanon’s economy teeters between stagnation and potential collapse. Nassib Ghobril, Chief Economist at Byblos Bank, tells This is Beirut that the conflict’s primary consequence is widespread instability, discouraging investment, slowing trade, and deterring tourism. The looming threat of war—particularly ...
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 ...
Drought: When the Sky Turns Its Back on the Earth
Christiane Tager 14/06 15:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Beirut recorded less than 350 mm of rainfall between November and March—well below the annual average of 800 mm—making the winter of 2024-2025 one of the driest in the last 20 years, according to official data. In the Beqaa, a vital agricultural hub, precipitation fell by over 45% compared to the seasonal average. This severe drop disrupted ...
Adha in Lebanon: Full Hotels, Bustling Streets and a Resilient Spirit
Christiane Tager 11/06 09:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Many expected the bombings to deter visitors. But in true Lebanese fashion, the country delivered a weekend of Eid al-Adha that rivaled its best tourism seasons. The numbers speak for themselves: nearly 300,000 travelers passed through Beirut Airport in May, which is the highest monthly total since 2019. The atmosphere was festive, the coast ...
Lebanon’s Real Estate: The Cautious Return of Arab Investors
Christiane Tager 06/06 11:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
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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. ...
Brent Crashes: Black Gold Turns Weightless
Christiane Tager 05/06 10:10 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Just two years ago, Brent crude neared $100 per barrel following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. As of Tuesday, the European benchmark traded around $65.70 per barrel—a level unseen since the depths of the 2020 pandemic. This steep and unexpected decline baffled analysts, even as it offers welcome relief to consumers. At the core of this ...
Running Low? Unleaded to the Rescue
Christiane Tager 04/06 21:35 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
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The Lebanese government seems to be taking its cue from an old maxim: “When in trouble, raise the taxes.” In a decision that hit like a bombshell, authorities announced a sharp hike in fuel prices – despite a global drop in oil costs. The official rationale? To fund social aid. The logic? Ease the burden on the poor by adding to the strain ...
As Fuel Prices Climb, the State Taps Your Wallet
Christiane Tager 02/06 19:50 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Thursday night brought a shocking surprise at the fuel station: gasoline and diesel prices surged, despite a 17% drop in global oil prices since February. Yes, you read that correctly. While prices are falling worldwide, in Lebanon, they’re climbing. This is the Lebanese exception – flammable edition. In short, a price hike running completely ...
When Cigarettes Fueled the Economy…
Christiane Tager 31/05 21:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
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For decades, cigarettes were a real nicotine cash cow for governments. A thriving industry, lucrative taxes, countless jobs and mass consumption that, despite health warnings, was an integral part of the global economic and social landscape. But that was before public health got seriously involved. On May 31st, we take a collective breath: it’s ...
Heavenly Connection: Starlink Offers a Lifeline to Lebanon’s Wi-Fi Woes
Christiane Tager 31/05 10:15 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Could Lebanon finally be on the cusp of fast, stable, uninterrupted internet? For once, fingers are crossed—not to reboot the router, but in genuine anticipation. After years of trudging through a digital experience as slow and congested as traffic on the Dora highway, Lebanon may be looking skyward for solutions. Starlink, which provides ...
Lebanon’s Real Estate Market: Tentative Signs of Recovery Amid Persistent Challenges
Christiane Tager 29/05 22:05 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
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The “political stabilization” that followed Aoun’s election in January delivered an immediate boost to Lebanon’s real estate market. “All the buyers who had been hesitant for years rushed in during the first quarter,” says Karl Kanaan, Sales Director at S. Gestion, speaking to This is Beirut. As a result, “A significant number of ...
Alfa and Touch: Weak Signal, Weaker Employee Rights
Christiane Tager 28/05 21:40 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
For years, employees of Lebanon’s two mobile operators, Alfa and Touch, have been fighting—unsuccessfully—to claim what they’re rightfully owed: bonuses, a 13th-month salary, collective contracts, and a worthy pension. Their determination hasn’t waned. And today, they’re making themselves heard —once again. Marc Aoun, head of the ...
When Lebanon’s Apple Loses Its Crunch
Christiane Tager 27/05 19:45 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
In Lebanon, the apple is a cornerstone of both culture and agriculture. It fills market stalls, embodies the freshness of the mountain regions, and represents a significant share of local farming. But beneath its smooth skin, a quiet crisis is unfolding: apple scab. “Or more precisely, Venturia inaequalis – a fungus with little that’s ...
Lebanon’s $4.5 Billion Price Tag: The Hidden Cost of the Syrian War
Christiane Tager 23/05 23:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Since 2011, hosting Syrian refugees has posed a severe economic challenge for Lebanon. According to the latest World Bank report, the direct annual cost of accommodating these refugees is estimated at around $4.5 billion. However, this figure only accounts for direct expenses. When indirect costs are included, the total cost rises to roughly ...
New and Simple Ways to Use Bitcoin
Christiane Tager 21/05 20:45 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Let’s dive into the world of Bitcoin – a digital currency that is transforming global finance. Bitcoin (BTC) is much more than just a cryptocurrency: it is a decentralized currency, without a central bank or intermediaries, based on blockchain technology – a public and secure ledger. In other words, it’s money that never sleeps, doesn’t ...
Arak, Wine, and Resilience: Syria’s Toast to the World
Christiane Tager 20/05 16:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Syria, long recognized as the birthplace of distillation and fermentation, is a land where arak and wine embody the essence of the terroir, the resilience of its people, and the vibrancy of its local communities. The Alawite and Christian populations play a vital role in sustaining this heritage, actively shaping the production of both arak and ...
The ‘Sunn Pest:’ A Tiny Insect and a Major Threat to Lebanon’s Wheat
Christiane Tager 19/05 21:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
As Lebanon’s farmers grapple with worsening drought, labor shortages and rising tensions along the border, another crisis is taking root – literally. A familiar pest, the sunn pest, is back, and it’s putting the country’s wheat harvest at serious risk. The sunn pest (Eurygaster integriceps), commonly known as the wheat bug, may be small, ...
Beirut Travel Comes at a Cost: Sky-High Airfares Limit Access to Lebanon
Christiane Tager 16/05 11:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
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Traveling to Lebanon is increasingly out of reach for many people. What was once a relatively accessible destination has turned into a high-end experience—something akin to boarding your flight straight from the Hermès boutique at the airport. This summer, airfare prices have reached near-absurd levels: a round-trip ticket from Paris to Beirut ...
Postal Sector: A Chronicle of a Tender That Won’t Close
Christiane Tager 14/05 16:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Rewind to July 2023: French logistics giant CMA CGM, through its subsidiary Merit-Colis Privé, was awarded the postal services tender launched by Lebanon’s Ministry of Telecommunications. It seemed like a turning point for the beleaguered sector: $12.8 million in promised investments, $6 million in guaranteed annual revenues for the state and a ...
The Vatican’s Finances: A (Nearly) Divine Mission for Leo XIV?
Christiane Tager 10/05 10:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Amid ongoing spiritual and social transformation, the Vatican is facing a more down-to-earth reality—its accounts are in the red. The Holy See’s financial management appears more akin to that of a debt-ridden state than a model of virtue. As head of the Catholic Church, the newly elected Pope Leo XIV inherits not only a spiritual mission but ...
Suitcases Full, Spending Big: Emiratis Rediscover Lebanon
Christiane Tager 07/05 22:15 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
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After being away from Lebanon for years, the Emiratis are finally coming back. The lifting of the travel ban – announced on Sunday and taking effect today, Wednesday, May 7, 2025 – has been welcomed by tourism industry professionals, who see it as a potential boost for a struggling sector. Pierre Achkar, the President of the Federation of ...
A Complicated Fuel Deal
Christiane Tager 05/05 21:45 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
It appears that the fuel partnership with Iraq is under strain – or even under high tension. Since July 2021, Iraq has been Lebanon’s main fuel supplier thanks to a $700 million contract, renewed in 2023, bringing the total to $1.4 billion. In return, Lebanon had committed to delivering Lebanese goods and services, particularly in the medical ...
Trade War: China Navigates the Storm with a Steady Compass
Christiane Tager 02/05 22:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
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Since Washington decided to strike hard with 145% tariffs, trade relations between China and the US have shifted from a negotiation table to a boxing ring. The blow is heavy: in 2024, the US alone accounted for nearly $500 billion in Chinese imports, making it Beijing’s largest commercial partner. In real terms, nearly one in five Chinese ...
Sun on the Horizon, Rough Skies Ahead: Summer 2025 Takes Off
Christiane Tager 01/05 20:50 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
As Lebanon gears up for the 2025 summer tourist season, it looks forward to sunny days but remains wary of potential challenges. With the return of expatriates, regional tensions, Israeli ceasefire violations and an economy seeking stability, the Lebanese tourism sector finds itself navigating turbulent waters. Yet, as the saying goes, “After ...
Syria’s Path to Recovery: Can It Outpace Lebanon?
Christiane Tager 29/04 21:40 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
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As the Lebanese endure rolling blackouts, relentless crises and a daily reality that often borders on the absurd, a piece of unexpected news has prompted a collective raised eyebrow – or two: Syria might well be rebuilt before Lebanon. Yes, you read that correctly. On Sunday, April 27, in a move as symbolic as it was strategic, Saudi Arabia ...
Farewell to Wads of Cash: Lebanon Unveils Banknotes of LBP 500,000 and 1 Million
Christiane Tager 28/04 22:05 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Banks Banque du Liban Central Bank of Lebanon
After nearly six years of economic and financial turmoil, Lebanon has taken a long-anticipated step by issuing higher-denomination banknotes. Last Thursday, the Lebanese Parliament approved a draft law presented by MP Ziad Hawat, after nearly two years of legislative wrangling, granting the Banque du Liban (BDL) permission to issue notes of LBP ...