Economy

Numbers & FiguresSaudi Arabia-Lebanon: A Major Trade Thaw Begins

Liliane Mokbel 17/11 20:35 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Lebanon Saudi Arabia Bahrain Gulf Kuwait Trade

Signs of warning relations between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia are becoming increasingly evident. Many see it as long overdue for Lebanon to reclaim its place within its natural sphere: the Arab world. On Monday, Prince Zayed bin Farhan, advisor to the Saudi Foreign Minister, visited Beirut with a technical delegation. The visit aimed to explore ...

VideosThe Symptoms of the Systemic Crisis

Liliane Mokbel 17/11 15:30 - Reading : less than a minute

Economy BDL Lebanon Banks

Byblos Bank chief economist Nassib Ghobril answers This is Beirut’s questions about the consequences of the systemic crisis.

Emirates Orders 65 Boeing 777X Planes in $38 BN Deal

This is Beirut 17/11 11:25 - Reading : less than a minute

UAE Aviation Emirates Boeing

Emirates ordered 65 Boeing 777X planes in a deal worth $38 billion on Monday, delivering a boost to the US manufacturer on day one of the Dubai Airshow. Deliveries are expected to start from the second quarter of 2027 under the deal, which also includes 130 GE9X engines from General Electric. "It's a long-term commitment that supports hundreds ...

Figure of the weekIn Lebanon, Power Flows… at a High Price

Liliane Mokbel 15/11 15:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Banks United Arab Emirates United Nations

According to World Population Review, the cost of electricity in Lebanon stands at $0.137 per kilowatt-hour (kWh). This makes the country the most expensive in the region and ranks it 74th worldwide out of 146 countries analyzed. In the region, Morocco follows with $0.121/kWh (86th), Jordan with $0.090/kWh (99th), the United Arab Emirates with ...

Money Laundering: BDL Introduces Next-Generation KYC

Liliane Mokbel 14/11 18:50 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Central Bank of Lebanon Lebanon Hezbollah US Treasury economy money laundering

On November 14, 2025, BDL issued Decision No. 13769, Circular No. 3, introducing a new “Know Your Customer” (KYC) form for all cash, foreign exchange, and money transfer transactions of $1,000 or more, and their equivalent. The measure applies to all non-banking financial institutions under BDL’s supervision, including financial companies, ...

Google Proposes Adtech Changes to Avoid Breakup After EU Fine

This is Beirut 14/11 09:35 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

European Union USA Google Fine Advertising

Google on Friday announced changes to its advertising services to avert the risk of a breakup, two months after Brussels hit the US giant with a massive fine. The European Commission slapped a 2.95-billion-euro ($3.43 billion) antitrust fine on Google for favoring its own services in September, giving the company 60 days to resolve the issues ...

FocusFarah: The State Bears Full Responsibility for the Misuse of Public Funds

This is Beirut 12/11 20:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Lebanon BDL Banks Economy

Lebanese economist and columnist Antoine Farah told Huna Lubnan that the Lebanese state bears full responsibility for the misuse of public funds both before and after the financial crisis, noting that what was once unclear prior to the 2019 collapse has now become indisputable. Farah argued that the state, working hand-in-hand with the ...

World Wine Output Set for Modest 2025 Recovery: Industry Body

This is Beirut 12/11 11:25 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

World Wine Production

Global wine production is on course for a modest recovery in 2025 after suffering a sharp downturn last year, the industry's international body said Wednesday. Output will, however, continue below recent averages as climate change and changing consumer habits take their toll, the International Organization of Vine and Wine (OIV) said in a ...

Demon Slayer Surge Powers Sony’s Strong Profit Outlook

This is Beirut 11/11 13:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Demon Slayer Tokyo Culture Cinema Art

Shares in Japanese giant Sony jumped more than five percent Tuesday after it hiked full-year profit forecasts thanks to the latest Demon Slayer anime blockbuster. The company also attributed the improved forecasts to higher expected sales of its PlayStation console and a smaller-than-anticipated impact from US tariffs. For the 2025-26 financial ...

Hakim Calls for Urgent Reforms to Restore Trust and Protect Depositors

This is Beirut 11/11 10:40 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Lebanon Banks International Monetary Fund Alain Hakim

Lebanon’s financial and economic situation is going through an unprecedented crisis “that requires decisive measures to restore confidence and protect depositors’ funds, while clarifying the responsibilities of the State.” These are the words of Alain Hakim, former Minister of Economy, summarizing the depth of the country’s economic ...

FocusSebastian Gorka’s Visit and Lebanon’s Financial Crossroads

This is Beirut 10/11 19:35 - Reading : 6 minute(s)

Lebanon BDL Banks Economy IMF

The Senior Director for Counterterrorism Sebastian Gorka’s visit to Lebanon over the past two days has added an unexpected but timely dimension to the country’s search for economic and political stability. His meetings with local officials and policy advisors reportedly centered on policies to cut off ...

ReportLebanon’s Dry Season: Agriculture at Risk, but Hope Remains

Élie-Joe Kamel 10/11 19:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Europe South Lebanon Turkey agriculture

Lebanon is facing an unusually dry year, with autumn bringing far less rainfall than normal. According to the Minister of Energy and Water, precipitation is down about 51 percent compared with the average. The winter of 2024-2025 had already been exceptionally dry, with Beirut recording just 382 mm, compared with 1,051 mm the previous year. The ...