Economy

Bank Audi Quarterly Report: Economic Reality and Outlook in a War-Torn Lebanon
Bank Audi Quarterly Report: Economic Reality and Outlook in a War-Torn Lebanon

Lebanon has suffered enormous human, material and economic losses due to the bombings, compounded by a massive wave of displacement not seen since the end of the Civil War in 1990. Most sectors of the Lebanese economy are currently stagnating, with significant declines in tourism and agriculture. The report indicates that the damages are colossal, ...

Depositors May Have Two Monthly Payments Instead of One!
Behind the ScenesDepositors May Have Two Monthly Payments Instead of One!

In the coming 48 hours, beneficiaries of Banque du Liban (BDL) Circulars 158 and 166, related to exceptional withdrawals of fresh dollars, will receive updates regarding potential amendments. A source close to the Central Bank has indicated that the number of monthly payments available to eligible depositors will be reduced to two, instead of the ...

Budget 2025: A Review of the Figures
Budget 2025: A Review of the Figures

In the absence of a miraculous diplomatic breakthrough, there are fears that the war between Israel and Hezbollah will continue into next year, according to several reliable sources. In this scenario, economic forecasts project a GDP of $12 billion for 2025—well below that of Gaza and the West Bank. With such a figure, achieving the projected ...

Land Registry: New Payment Orders and Title Deeds Issued
Land Registry: New Payment Orders and Title Deeds Issued

The General directorate of the Land registry office announced on Tuesday that “the cadastral secretariats of Aley and Chouf will hand over ready payment orders and ready property titles to those who wish to have them, or their representatives, on Thursday, October 31, 2024.” It said that a reception mechanism has been determined for ...

Lebanon's wine region wrestles with war
Lebanon's wine region wrestles with war

The moment Israel's strikes on Lebanon's Bekaa Valley cease, Roland Abou-Khater straps a white flag to his truck, watches the sky for warplanes, then whisks a harvesting team to near the firing line. His vineyards in Lebanon's wine heartland, where Hezbollah holds sway, have become a death trap since Israel last month shifted its focus from Gaza ...

Saudi ‘Davos in the Desert’ Opens With Region on War Footing
Saudi ‘Davos in the Desert’ Opens With Region on War Footing

Global business leaders gathered in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday for a glitzy investor forum as conflict shakes the region and scepticism mounts over the Gulf kingdom's most ambitious development projects. The Future Investment Initiative (FII) debuted in 2017 as a showcase for de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's dream of diversifying ...

Lebanon's Grey List Status: No Reason to Panic!
Lebanon's Grey List Status: No Reason to Panic!

Lebanon has been officially placed on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list, as announced on Friday. This expected decision came as no surprise. “Of course, we are aware of the extremely dramatic situation in Lebanon, currently,” said Mexican Gafi President Elisa de Anda Madrazo, following the FATF meeting in Paris. “I would like ...

In Numbers: The Endangered Sectors
Numbers & FiguresIn Numbers: The Endangered Sectors

Lebanon, already grappling with severe economic and political crises, is now facing the devastating impact of the ongoing military conflict between Hezbollah and Israel. This war has plunged nearly every sector of the country into a critical state, from infrastructures, the private sector, and agriculture to energy, water, and trade. The ...

Qlayaat Airport: It's Time to Open It to Air Traffic!
ChronicleQlayaat Airport: It's Time to Open It to Air Traffic!

“The Qlayaat René Mouawad Airport could be opened for air traffic in emergencies to reduce the risks faced by crews and passengers at Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport,” stated Sajih Attieh, chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Public Works and Transport, in an interview with This is Beirut. The President of the Private Pilots ...

WFP Meals for Displaced at Risk—A Minister’s Greed!
AnalysisWFP Meals for Displaced at Risk—A Minister’s Greed!

On October 1, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and UN Humanitarian Coordinator Omran Riza launched an urgent appeal for $426 million to address the immediate humanitarian needs of civilians affected by the war and the resulting crisis. To date, the United Nations has secured commitments totaling approximately $150 million, with continued ...

Abboud: Decreased Bookings at BIA
PoliticsAbboud: Decreased Bookings at BIA

Jean Abboud, President of the Lebanese Tourist and Travel Agency Owners’ Union, revealed that flight bookings departing from Beirut, via Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport, have decreased over the last ten days by around 20-30% compared to the previous period. In a press release on Wednesday, he stated that the number of flights will ...

Global Stock Markets Mixed Amid Earnings Season and U.S. Election Uncertainty
Numbers & FiguresGlobal Stock Markets Mixed Amid Earnings Season and U.S. Election Uncertainty

In Europe, as of 7:30 AM GMT, stock indices were relatively stable, with Paris (−0.02%), Milan (+0.07%), and Frankfurt (+0.04%). Meanwhile, Asian markets diverged: Tokyo closed down (−0.55%), while Shanghai (+0.52%) and Hong Kong (+1.28%) surged in late trading. On Wall Street on Tuesday, indices ended the day mixed, with the Dow Jones ...