Sending money to Lebanon in 2026 requires one core decision: do you want the recipient to get cash dollars quickly, reduce fees, or receive funds in a bank account. World Bank data shows Lebanon remains an expensive remittance destination on some major corridors, while local payout rules can reduce what families actually receive. This guide explains the most reliable options, the real cost drivers, and how to protect the final amount.
Lebanon’s e-commerce market runs on a hybrid reality: online storefronts often begin on WhatsApp and Instagram, payments skew toward cash-on-delivery and local wallets, and delivery is built around a mix of quick-commerce fleets and fulfillment providers. This guide maps the main platforms consumers actually use, the logistics operators behind the scenes, and the payment methods that keep checkout working in 2026.
Lebanon can be an advantage for remote-first startups—if you design for reality. This guide lays out a practical 2026 operating playbook: async-first workflows, power and internet redundancy standards, clear hiring and compliance models, disciplined payroll systems, and continuity planning that measures output—not online time.
Saudi Arabia is expanding its logistics corridors through a new rail freight route that connects the Kingdom’s eastern gateways with Al Haditha on the Jordanian border. The move reflects a broader Saudi strategy to strengthen supply chain resilience, reduce shipping times, and shift cargo away from vulnerable maritime chokepoints as regional tensions disrupt trade flows.
Lebanese entrepreneurs in 2026 need a different finance stack than founders elsewhere: local banking constraints, frequent USD/LBP dual pricing, and platform availability gaps mean “what works” is mostly about reliability and compliance. This guide maps a practical setup—Lebanese business bank accounts, BDL-supervised electronic payment providers, wallets for day-to-day operations, and payment tools for e-commerce and international collections.
A broad global consensus of risk is forming around the Strait of Hormuz, as the IMF, OECD and IEA warn that prolonged disruption could hit growth and reignite inflation in 2026. While some of the figures circulating online could not be independently verified, the core message is clear: a sustained energy shock through Hormuz would threaten the global economy far beyond the Middle East.
Lebanese shipowner and fund manager Atef Abou Merhi has launched Pelagic Credit Plc, a yield-oriented shipowning platform anchored by Pelagic Partners and supported by long-term bareboat triple net leases. The company began trading on Euronext Growth Oslo under the ticker “PLGC,” targeting an initial capital raise of around $75 million and an initial fleet of four vessels on five-year leases.
PEAQ, a Dubai-based social wellness club founded by Lebanese entrepreneur Ali Hassoun, has reportedly raised $2 million from private investors to support expansion and a potential second location. The concept, based in Al Quoz, combines Lagree training, contrast therapy, recovery services, and community programming—reflecting a broader shift in Dubai toward integrated wellness experiences.
Gold, long considered a safe-haven asset, is declining even as global risks rise. This article explains the key forces behind the unexpected drop in gold prices, including interest rates, a strong U.S. dollar, and shifting investor behavior.
The latest global billionaire snapshot shows the U.S. at the top by count and total wealth, followed by China and India, with Germany and Russia rounding out the top five. Taiwan makes the top ten, underscoring the growing role of electronics manufacturing in wealth creation. The figures are based on Forbes’ billionaire data as of March 1, 2026.
Kalshi, the Lebanese-founded prediction market platform, has raised $1 billion at a $22 billion valuation, according to multiple reports. The funding highlights surging investor appetite as trading activity accelerates, but regulators and lawmakers are intensifying scrutiny around whether these markets function as regulated financial instruments or illegal gambling—and how to prevent manipulation and insider abuse.
Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates approved a Financial Institution Resilience Package that widens banks’ access to liquidity and relaxes selected prudential requirements amid escalating regional market stress linked to Iran. The central bank said it holds foreign exchange reserves above AED 1 trillion and that UAE banks maintain roughly USD 250 billion in liquidity at the central bank and in eligible assets, a cushion officials want lenders to use to sustain financing for businesses and households.
The Lebanon-Israel maritime agreement has re-entered the political spotlight as Israeli leaders debate tougher pressure on Lebanon during the current war. But the maritime border deal, signed in 2022 and registered at the United Nations, remains in force as of March 17, 2026, and legal experts say any unilateral attempt to scrap it would face serious obstacles under international law.
The Israel Defense Forces says it has launched “limited and targeted ground operations” in southern Lebanon, intensifying fighting around Khiyam as Israeli forces push west toward the Litani River. Israeli officials have framed the operation as a security campaign to expand a defensive zone and pressure Hezbollah, while UN documents and the mandate of United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon define the area south of the Litani as a zone that should be free of unauthorized armed personnel and weapons.
Looking for Lebanese tech companies to follow, partner with, hire from, or invest in? This research page curates notable Lebanon-based and Lebanese-founded tech companies, organized by sector, with quick descriptions and a clear definition of what “Lebanese” means in the tech context.