This is Beirut - Central Bank of Lebanon

BDL, Lebanon’s Anchor of Trust on the Path to Recovery

Liliane Mokbel, 12/09 15:40 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Central Bank of Lebanon Banks Banque du Liban Lebanon economy BDL

In a country where figures are often subject to interpretation and fiscal data remains scarce or unreliable, Lebanon’s Central Bank (BDL) seeks to reaffirm its role as a reference point for institutional investors and international markets. It also aims to provide citizens with clear benchmarks to better understand the rationale and direction ...

Parliamentary Committee Approves New Banknote Amid Currency Collapse

This is Beirut, 10/09 16:55 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Banks Central Bank of Lebanon Internal Security Forces Ibrahim Kanaan lebanon

The Finance and Budget Committee, chaired by MP Ibrahim Kanaan, approved on Wednesday a legislative amendment authorizing the Central Bank of Lebanon (BDL) to issue new banknotes, including a denomination of LBP 5 million. The move, seen as emblematic of the national currency’s collapse, was justified as a technical step to facilitate daily ...

Budget 2026: 1,051 Pages, Zero Tax Reform, Spending on the Rise

Liliane Mokbel, 06/09 11:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Central Bank of Lebanon

The 2026 draft budget spans 1,051 pages and 50 articles, yet still avoids any real tax reform. Distributed to ministers within the constitutional deadline, it relies almost entirely on indirect taxation, the most unfair burden for low- and middle-income households. In essence, it offers nothing new, repeating the same approach as the 2025 budget ...

EDL vs. Private Generators: Lebanon’s Daily Electricity Battle

Liliane Mokbel, 03/09 15:45 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

EDL Central Bank of Lebanon Banks Lebanon economy

Electricité du Liban (EDL) collection agents occasionally remember to bill subscribers. Neighborhood generator operators, on the other hand, never forget the last day of the month. They collect payments even before reading meters, already knowing exactly how much they will extract. The idea of EDL self-financing its fuel purchases remains ...

Beirut Traders Index Points to Fragile Economic Rebound

This is Beirut, 19/08 16:55 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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The latest index of the Beirut Traders Association-Fransabank (Q2 2025) shows the first signs of a recovery in local markets, a welcome development as the World Bank forecasts 4.7% GDP growth for Lebanon in 2025 and a sharp drop in inflation. The retail trade index rose to 33.13 points in Q2 2025, up from 30.01 the previous quarter (base 100 = Q4 ...

Lebanon: A Cry for Help from Doctors, Nurses and Hospitals

Makram Haddad, 18/07 13:35 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

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“Have you ever thought about the suffering of hospitals?” That poignant question opened the press conference held on Thursday in Beirut by the Bikhazi Medical Group (BMG). In front of a crowd of journalists and healthcare professionals, hospital and union officials laid out, without sugarcoating, the suffering of a sector in crisis. A ...

BDL Takes Action: Ban on Transactions with Al-Qard Al-Hassan & co.

This is Beirut, 15/07 14:50 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Banks Banque du Liban Central Bank of Lebanon

The circular (No. 170) published by the Banque du Liban, accompanied by Basic Decision No. 13335, marks a decisive turning point in regulating the Lebanese financial sector. By formally banning banks and financial institutions from any relationship with unauthorized entities, particularly the association Al-Qard Al-Hassan, the Banque du Liban is ...

BDL Orders Institutions to Accept Old US Dollar Notes

This is Beirut, 08/07 18:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Banque du Liban Central Bank of Lebanon

The Banque du Liban (BDL) has issued a directive requiring all banks, financial institutions, money exchange companies and electronic money transfer firms operating in Lebanon to accept all authentic US dollar banknotes, regardless of whether they are from older or newer series. In a statement released on Tuesday, the central bank emphasized that ...

BDL Issues Circular to Regulate Foreign Transfers

This is Beirut, 01/07 18:15 - Reading : less than a minute

Banks Banque du Liban Central Bank of Lebanon lebanon

Banque du Liban (BDL) issued Circular No. 169 on Tuesday, introducing new restrictions on the transfer of deposits abroad in a bid to promote fairness among depositors amid Lebanon’s ongoing financial crisis. Under the new directive, banks are prohibited from transferring deposits outside Lebanon without prior approval from BDL. The measure is ...

Souhaid Concludes Reform-Focused Consultations in Paris and Washington

This is Beirut, 30/06 16:20 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Washington International Monetary Fund Banks Central Bank of Lebanon Karim Souhaid

Central Bank Governor Karim Souhaid wrapped up a round of high-level technical consultations in Paris and Washington focused on advancing structural reforms in the banking sector, according to a statement issued by Banque du Liban (BDL). The meetings aimed to lay the groundwork for a comprehensive reform plan supported by legislative and ...

Central Bank of Lebanon’s Governor Proposes a Specialized Body for Bank Restructuring

Maurice Matta, 28/06 15:00 - Reading : 6 minute(s)

Banks Central Bank of Lebanon International Monetary Fund

The subcommittee of the parliamentary Finance and Budget Committee, chaired by MP Ibrahim Kanaan, continues its review of the draft Banking Sector Restructuring Law. The discussions are centered on resolving divergences between the government's proposal, the IMF’s recommendations, and the proposals presented by Central Bank of ...

BDL Raises Monthly Withdrawal Limits

This is Beirut, 18/06 15:50 - Reading : less than a minute

Banks Banque du Liban Central Bank of Lebanon Lebanon

The Central Bank of Lebanon (BDL) announced on Wednesday a one-year extension of Circulars 158 and 166, initially set to expire on June 30, 2025. The decision, which comes amid a prolonged financial crisis, aims to address the pressing needs of depositors and help preserve social stability. As part of the extension, BDL also increased the monthly ...