Latest business news, startups, and economic insights from Lebanon and the MENA region.
Ramp, the New York spend management startup co-founded by Beirut-born Karim Atiyeh, is reportedly valued at $32 billion. That figure tops Lebanon's entire gross domestic product and has revived a conversation about Lebanese diaspora tech success.
Snap, Oracle, and GoCardless have each announced major layoffs in April 2026, with reported reductions totaling more than 31,000 jobs across the three firms. The companies cite AI efficiency gains, a pivot to AI data center capacity, and a push toward profitability.
Cursor, the AI coding assistant maker, is reportedly in talks to raise $2 billion at a valuation above $50 billion, according to a CNBC report dated April 19, 2026. The round would rank among the year's largest late-stage AI fundraises if it closes on the reported terms.
Apple has named hardware engineering chief John Ternus as its next chief executive, effective September 1, 2026. Tim Cook will step into the role of Executive Chairman after close to 15 years running the company.
The UAE has initiated discussions with the United States on a potential currency swap line to safeguard dollar liquidity, signaling early risk management amid rising geopolitical uncertainty in the region.
Amazon has agreed to acquire satellite operator Globalstar for roughly $11.57 billion, or $90 per share. The deal accelerates Amazon Leo, the rebranded version of Project Kuiper, and intensifies competition with SpaceX's Starlink.
Anthropic has released Claude Opus 4.7, a new frontier model focused on long-horizon software engineering and higher-resolution vision. The update reshuffles several AI benchmark standings and expands what Claude can do across coding and design workflows.
Saudi-based fashion startup Aya has raised a $7 million Series A to scale its on-demand production model across MENA. The round was led by RAED Ventures with participation from Sanabil Investments, Nuwa Capital, Joa Capital, and Khwarizmi Ventures.
Goldman Sachs has set its base-case recovery value for Lebanese Eurobonds at 24.6 cents on the dollar, according to research circulated by Credit Libanais. The bank expects restructuring to start in the second half of 2026 if a permanent ceasefire and other conditions are met.
Solidere A shares closed at $73.60 on the Beirut Stock Exchange on April 17, keeping the stock near the bottom of its 52-week range. Thin volumes and wartime risk repricing continue to weigh on investor sentiment toward Lebanese equities.
Kingdom Holding Company will acquire a 70% stake in Al Hilal Club Company for SAR840 million, in a deal that values the Saudi football business at SAR1.4 billion on an enterprise basis. The transaction marks another major step in Saudi Arabia’s sports privatization push and keeps PIF involved as a remaining shareholder.
Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport is showing early signs of recovery as regional airlines resume flights to the Lebanese capital. flydubai has restored Beirut service, Qatar Airways has resumed operations, and airport activity is picking up after weeks of disruption.
A new generation of cyber-capable AI models is forcing banking regulators and major lenders to reassess digital risk. Anthropic’s Mythos, which the company says has identified thousands of serious software vulnerabilities, has triggered responses across the UK, Europe, and the US as officials move to gauge the threat to financial stability.
The International Energy Agency’s latest warning is not just an oil-market headline. It is a business risk story. If Middle East energy output takes two years to recover and the Strait of Hormuz remains disrupted, companies across the region could face higher transport costs, tighter margins, supply delays, and renewed inflation pressure.
Lebanon's traditional banking system remains paralyzed nearly seven years into the financial crisis. Digital wallets, remittance aggregators, and crypto rails have quietly become the default way the country moves money. Regulators are now starting to catch up.