Economy
Page 2 / 6Macroeconomic coverage focused on Lebanon and the MENA region—growth, inflation, currency, employment, public finance, and major institutions such as the IMF and World Bank.
Emirati capital moves early on Lebanon as non-oil trade reaches $4.2 billion
Emirati executives argue the time to enter Lebanon is before the recovery, not after it.
A UAE business delegation spent two days in Beirut for the Lebanese-Emirati Economic Forum, signing five memorandums of understanding and holding the first meeting of a new joint business council. Non-oil trade between the two countries reached $4.2 billion in 2025. Infrastructure and digitization were discussed but produced no agreements.
LAU Study Ties NSSF Coverage to a 24% Higher Chance of Wage Jobs
Based on 2019 national labor data, the study links public insurance to formal jobs and leaves informal workers exposed.
A new study from the Lebanese American University examines how social security coverage relates to the type of work Lebanese people hold. Drawing on 2019 national labor data, it finds that National Social Security Fund enrollment is closely tied to wage employment, while the self-employed and small-firm workers often fall outside formal protection.
Lebanon Bans Heavy Trucks From Roads During Weekend Rush Hours
Decision No. 791 keeps trucks over 7.5 tons off main roads on Friday and Sunday evenings to ease weekend traffic.
Lebanon's Interior Ministry has issued a decision restricting trucks heavier than 7.5 tons from driving on major roads during peak weekend hours. The rule sets specific blackout windows on Fridays and Sundays, with exemptions for fuel, food, medical, and emergency vehicles. It also adds new lane and safety rules for the trucks still allowed on the road.
Lebanon Ties Driving School Fees to a Mandatory Skill Test
New Ministry of Interior rules cap what schools can charge and link the total bill to how much training you need.
Lebanon's Ministry of Interior has issued Decision No. 825, setting a unified fee structure for driving schools nationwide. The bill is now tied to a mandatory skill evaluation that sorts students into five levels, with total package caps ranging from 11.25 million to nearly 23 million pounds. The decision also puts limits on paperwork and transport fees that schools previously priced on their own.
Lebanon Nears Electricity Import Deal With Syria
Energy Minister Joe Saddi says a contract to bring Syrian power into Lebanon's grid is almost ready.
Lebanon's Ministry of Energy and Water says it is close to signing a contract to import electricity from Syria, though the volume has not been set. The reported deal comes as Beirut and Damascus rebuild ties.
Lebanon Ranked 2nd Regionally for Average Internet Cost at $14.23 a Month
A global study of 214 countries places Lebanon second in the Arab world for broadband cost, at $14.23 a month.
Broadband Genie's 2026 Global Broadband Price League compared fixed-line broadband prices across 214 countries. Lebanon placed 15th worldwide and second among Arab countries, behind Egypt, at an average of $14.23 per month. The figures measure the dollar price of a plan and do not account for local incomes.
Payment Cards in Lebanon Slip to 1.70 Million as Prepaid Use Fades
BDL data shows prepaid cards fell 13.47% in four months while POS terminals jumped 17.91%.
BDL statistics show the number of payment cards in Lebanon fell 0.99% in the first four months of 2026 to 1,697,090. Prepaid cards drove the decline, while debit and charge cards grew and the POS network expanded by nearly 18%.
Lebanese Bank Capital Up 23% in a Year While Deposits Keep Shrinking
BDL data show commercial bank equity at LBP 446.67 trillion in May 2026 as deposits and lending both contract.
Banque du Liban statistics for May 2026 show the capital accounts of Lebanon's commercial banks rising 1.39% since December to LBP 446.67 trillion. Customer deposits fell to LBP 7,750.19 trillion and the deposit dollarization rate reached 98.76%.
UAE Investors 'More Than Welcome' in Lebanon, Says Ambassador Mneimneh
Lebanon's envoy to the UAE points to ports, airports and digital governance as the first openings for Emirati capital.
Lebanon is stepping up efforts to attract Emirati investment, with its ambassador to the UAE confirming talks are under way in sectors like ports, airports and digital governance. The push follows the lifting of the UAE travel ban and the signing of a trilateral framework between Lebanon, the US and Israel.
Tripoli Port Freight Drops 37.89% in Q1 2026 as Revenues Slide
Total shipped goods fell to 377 thousand tons in the first quarter, down from 607 thousand tons a year earlier.
Freight activity at the Port of Tripoli fell sharply in the first quarter of 2026, with total shipped goods down 37.89% year-on-year. Vessel traffic, car imports, and port revenues all recorded steep declines over the same period.
Banque de l'Habitat's Solar Loan: How to Apply in Lebanon in 2026
The Housing Bank finances rooftop solar in fresh dollars, with strict income limits and three official sign-offs.
Banque de l'Habitat runs the main active financing route for rooftop solar in Lebanon, lending in fresh dollars over five years. This guide covers the 2026 rate, the income and debt limits, the LCEC and ministry approvals required, and the exact steps to apply online.
Prices Set to Rise 2 to 3 Percent on New Fee
Because the new fee reaches raw materials, importers expect it to spread through the entire market.
Lebanon has introduced Decree 3214, a fee tied to the waste that goods generate during production or use. Because it captures raw materials feeding local factories, importers say the cost will surface in prices across most product categories, with fuel singled out as the heaviest burden.
