Latest business news, startups, and economic insights from Lebanon and the MENA region.
Shark Tank Lebanon has launched on LBCI, giving entrepreneurs a rare national stage to pitch and market their businesses during Lebanon’s ongoing economic collapse. The show follows the global “Shark Tank” format, with founders presenting to a panel of investors who can invest for equity or pass. This report is based on coverage of the show’s debut and early details.
Lebanon’s digital economy is growing in specific pockets, driven by cash-heavy realities, diaspora and tourism demand, and a wave of new digital accounts and wallets. This market map breaks down the fastest-moving segments in 2026 and the startup opportunities founders can build now—especially in fintech, e-commerce rails, and cybersecurity—based on the U.S. International Trade Administration’s February 2026 update.
The ESA–HEC Entrepreneur Prize is one of the most credible launchpads for Lebanese founders, offering a pathway to a six-month incubation at Station F via the HEC Paris incubator network. This guide explains who is eligible, what you must submit (deck + 2-minute video + application), and the exact criteria juries consistently reward—problem clarity, MVP evidence, international potential, and execution.
Millions of Lebanese rely on cash remittances from abroad. Both Western Union and OMT facilitate these transfers, but neither is identical. Western Union is a global money-transfer company, while OMT (Online Money Transfer SAL) is a Lebanon-based provider and the official Western Union agent in Lebanon. Crucially, both networks pay out only in USD due to Lebanon’s currency restrictions, and both apply fees (including a local cash-handling fee of about 2% for USD pickups). This guide explains how their fees, speed, and payout rules compare, so senders can choose wisely and ensure recipients get the most out of every transfer.
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.