Economy

Lebanon Secures Spot Among Arab Billion-Dollar Companies
Lebanon Secures Spot Among Arab Billion-Dollar Companies

The Arab world’s economy is undergoing a rapid transformation, fueled by the rise of financial markets and robust growth in the technology, energy and finance sectors. According to data compiled by Forbes Middle East, more than 280 companies across the region now boast a market valuation exceeding $1 billion. At the forefront of this ...

Touch Signs Roaming Deal with Zain Omantel
Touch Signs Roaming Deal with Zain Omantel

Mobile operator Touch announced on Monday a new regional partnership through the signing of a roaming agreement with Zain Omantel International (ZOI), a major telecommunications alliance in the Middle East. According to a company press release, the agreement will allow Zain and Omantel subscribers from eight countries – Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, ...

Lebanon’s Exports Surge 30% in Q1 2025
Figure of the weekLebanon’s Exports Surge 30% in Q1 2025

Lebanon’s exports surged by 30% in the first quarter of 2025, reaching $957 million, up from $735 million during the same period in 2024. This marks a significant improvement for a country with a chronically negative trade balance. Jewelry, Lebanon’s top export category (43% of total exports), played a major role in this increase, with ...

A Power Revolution with No Current
A Power Revolution with No Current

It’s a quietly growing trend. Since Lebanon’s 2021 fuel crisis, the electric vehicle market has been steadily gaining ground. Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), in particular, are spearheading the shift. Their futuristic designs are increasingly becoming common sights on Lebanon’s roads. The numbers are still small but rising. In the absence ...

Lebanon’s $4.5 Billion Price Tag: The Hidden Cost of the Syrian War
Lebanon’s $4.5 Billion Price Tag: The Hidden Cost of the Syrian War

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 ...

$257.8 Million for Water!
$257.8 Million for Water!

Minister of Finance Yassine Jaber, in the presence of Minister of Energy and Water Joe Saddi, signed a $257.8 million loan agreement with World Bank Regional Director Jean-Christophe Carret for the Greater Beirut Water Supply Project. The financing is aimed at improving water coverage for 1.8 million people, reducing dependence on costly private ...

UK Newspaper The Telegraph Set for US Ownership
UK Newspaper The Telegraph Set for US Ownership

British right-wing newspaper The Telegraph has agreed a deal that would see it purchased by US investment group RedBird Capital Partners for £500 million ($670 million), the pair announced Friday. RedBird has struck an "in-principle agreement" to purchase The Telegraph Media Group (TMG), which comprises the 170-year-old paper's print and online ...

Safe Drinking Water Access: Lebanon Lags Behind in the Arab World
Safe Drinking Water Access: Lebanon Lags Behind in the Arab World

A recent report by the US-based World Population Review highlights significant disparities across Arab countries in access to “safely managed” drinking water. While several Gulf states lead the region, Lebanon posts alarming figures that reflect the country’s deepening infrastructure crisis. At the top of the regional ranking, Kuwait has ...

Japan Core Inflation Tops Forecasts as Rice Prices Almost Double
Japan Core Inflation Tops Forecasts as Rice Prices Almost Double

Japanese inflation spiked at a two-year high in April, data showed Friday, as rice prices almost doubled, turning focus on the central bank as it mulls more interest rate hikes amid Donald Trump's trade war. The news also puts pressure on Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba ahead of elections in July and after a minister was forced to resign over a ...

Constitutional Council Decision Reignites Debate: Landlords File Lawsuits Against Tenants!
Constitutional Council Decision Reignites Debate: Landlords File Lawsuits Against Tenants!

It appears that the crisis over the non-residential lease law in Lebanon is far from over—especially after a recent decision by the Constitutional Council declaring the law unenforceable, which has sparked fresh constitutional interpretations regarding its fate. Last Tuesday, the Constitutional Council issued Decision No. 5 concerning the appeal ...

BDL Issues Statement on Legal Measures and Financial Transparency
BDL Issues Statement on Legal Measures and Financial Transparency

Lebanon’s Central Bank (BDL) announced in an official statement that it remains committed to transparency and integrity within the financial sector. It is actively pursuing legal procedures in collaboration with specialized law firms across several European countries and other international jurisdictions. This effort aims to initiate judicial ...

Homeownership Rates Reveal Inequalities Among Arab Countries
Homeownership Rates Reveal Inequalities Among Arab Countries

A recently published report by the U.S.-based financial and economic magazine CEOWORLD, known for its global rankings and comparative studies, sheds light on the disparities in homeownership rates across Arab countries. The findings reflect significant socio-economic differences within the region. At the top of the Arab world, Bahrain boasts the ...