For years, Lebanese bankers were buoyant when talking about the potential for expansion throughout the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. But even the best risk assessment teams couldn’t …
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Lebanese banks have shown resilient results amid the relatively tough operating environment that characterized the first quarter of 2011. The ‘Alpha Report’ — a detailed performance synopsis of the top …
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Since the end of the civil war, Lebanon has developed a relationship between its economy and banking sector that resembles an old beat-up truck carrying a heavy load on a …
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Government pockets Dubai Bank The Dubai government last month took full control of Dubai Bank, an Islamic lender that was 70 percent owned by the emirate’s Dubai Holding and 30 …
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It’s a balmy September Friday evening in Damascus. Even at the tail end of the summer tourism season, visitors stream through the Old City souks. Bars, some only recently opened …
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The recent political unrest in Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries has underscored the importance of boosting the region’s economic stability. Small and medium-sized companies have an important role …
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For the most part, a drive out of Beirut down Lebanon’s southern coastal highway offers a scenic respite from the city; to the right lies the sparkling waters of the …
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Economy taking knocks The political upheavals in Lebanon and around the region, coupled with a natural cyclical downturn, may signal the end of Lebanon’s economic honeymoon of the past several …
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The threat that cultural heritage faces in Beirut as a result of rising land prices and the scarcity of empty plots is a familiar theme. There seems to be no …
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Illegal buildings on public property Security forces in Lebanon are cracking down on the illegal construction of residential buildings on public land. Particular areas of concern are Hezbollah-controlled regions in …