November 2, two days before the Lebanese prime minister Saad Hariri resigned unexpectedly while on a seemingly routine visit to Riyadh, his economy minister Raed Khoury announced the government was trying to work out a policy that would reverse what he called Lebanon’s “gloomy economic situation”.
All that seems a long time ago and, dare I say, we would do anything to be back in that particular “gloom” right now.
The streets of downtown Beirut are empty. The city has that familiar smell of desperation. The Lebanese are aware that they are once again in crisis, one that not only threatens to destabilise the country but also smash what was left of a vulnerable economy.
Already, we are experiencing the fallout: yesterday it was announced that the Four Seasons and Movenpick hotels, both of which belonged to the Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, are up for sale and are said to be on the market at well below what they are worth. The prince clearly has his own problems but the symbolism of a serious Saudi investor “leaving” Lebanon in a hurry cannot be ignored.
And we only have ourselves to blame. Whether or not it was overt pressure from Saudi Arabia that forced Mr Hariri to step down, the fact remains that the kingdom doesn’t keep an army in Lebanon. Iran does, and has done for over a quarter of a century and it is precisely Hizbollah’s presence in Lebanon that has thwarted the country’s economic growth and once again threatens to do so.
Yes, the Lebanese are outraged that their prime minister was forced to give up the premiership on foreign soil amid a crackdown when senior Saudis were arrested on corruption charges but, if we are being completely honest, this crisis hasn’t just happened. It has its roots in the establishment of Hizbollah as the “official” resistance to Israel’s 18-year occupation of South Lebanon from 1982 to 2000.
When the area was liberated, instead of putting down their weapons, Hizbollah dug in, claiming to be the guarantors against future aggression, all the while consolidating its own internal power base.
Understandably, the economy and economic confidence has always suffered, but Hizbollah has ensured that its constituents are insulated from the buffeting effects of its actions by providing social services and utilities.
The upshot is that today Lebanon is part of an Iranian crescent taking in Baghdad, Damascus and Beirut. Yes, Lebanon’s power sharing system ensures mixed participation, but on closer inspection it is clear that the president Michel Aoun owes his job to Hizbollah and it is also clear that Saudi Arabia ran out of patience with Hizbollah’s ever-tightening grip on the country.
Hypocrisy? Maybe. But the difference is that Saudi Arabia was always a pillar of Lebanon’s stability, advocating economic growth rather than conflict as the overarching priority. The country sent Saudis to spend and it happily employed Lebanese, who thrived in middle management positions and who sent home US$2bn.
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Read more:
Lebanon must not get caught in the crossfire between Hizbollah and its critics
Former US diplomat: Hariri resignation a threat to Lebanon’s 'delicate balance'
With Hariri gone, Lebanon is on a dangerous path
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Now we risk pariah status and all that goes with it, including an unofficial boycott of Lebanese human capital and a gradual reduction in the 300,000 Lebanese who are employed in the GCC. Furthermore, given America’s support of the kingdom, some Lebanese-Americans may be increasingly vulnerable to surveillance by the US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, given the possibility of ties with Hizbollah.
Things had been going relatively well for Lebanon. The government had been relatively functional. The oil and gas files were dusted down and tenders prepared and there was even a move to spend on infrastructure. Now it’s all on hold.
The good news is that the Lebanese pound is still solid. The central bank has ample foreign currency reserves and has proven ability to get liquidity.
The current system can prevent the country from defaulting on its debt – but it fails in everything else.
Ultimately Lebanon’s problems run deeper than a prime ministerial resignation. For nearly 30 years, we have been waiting for radical economic and social reform and an economy run by competent and transparent technocrats. Privatisation is also needed, as is deep sector restructuring, while a debt repayment plan must not only be established but also announced as public policy.
In the meantime, whatever aspirations we might have to be economically stable and prosperous, it’s all about taming Hizbollah, a party that has driven a wedge into the country. And the truth is that Hizbollah’s supporters deserve better. They have stood by the party – but one wonders just how long this loyalty can last if economic opportunities are curtailed and constituents become stigmatised by the party’s activities.
Surely the party must now recognise that it has reached a crossroads in its history and that it cannot expect to throw its weight around in Lebanon, the region, and the rest of the word, with impunity and without repercussions.
Michael Karam is a freelance writer who lives between Beirut and Brighton
What you as a drone operator need to know
A permit and licence is required to fly a drone legally in Dubai.
Sanad Academy is the United Arab Emirate’s first RPA (Remotely Piloted Aircraft) training and certification specialists endorsed by the Dubai Civil Aviation authority.
It is responsible to train, test and certify drone operators and drones in UAE with DCAA Endorsement.
“We are teaching people how to fly in accordance with the laws of the UAE,” said Ahmad Al Hamadi, a trainer at Sanad.
“We can show how the aircraft work and how they are operated. They are relatively easy to use, but they need responsible pilots.
“Pilots have to be mature. They are given a map of where they can and can’t fly in the UAE and we make these points clear in the lectures we give.
“You cannot fly a drone without registration under any circumstances.”
Larger drones are harder to fly, and have a different response to location control. There are no brakes in the air, so the larger drones have more power.
The Sanad Academy has a designated area to fly off the Al Ain Road near Skydive Dubai to show pilots how to fly responsibly.
“As UAS technology becomes mainstream, it is important to build wider awareness on how to integrate it into commerce and our personal lives,” said Major General Abdulla Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief, Dubai Police.
“Operators must undergo proper training and certification to ensure safety and compliance.
“Dubai’s airspace will undoubtedly experience increased traffic as UAS innovations become commonplace, the Forum allows commercial users to learn of best practice applications to implement UAS safely and legally, while benefitting a whole range of industries.”
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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Famous left-handers
- Marie Curie
- Jimi Hendrix
- Leonardo Di Vinci
- David Bowie
- Paul McCartney
- Albert Einstein
- Jack the Ripper
- Barack Obama
- Helen Keller
- Joan of Arc
The specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
Torque: 475Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Price: From Dh215,900
On sale: Now
Five expert hiking tips
Always check the weather forecast before setting off
Make sure you have plenty of water
Set off early to avoid sudden weather changes in the afternoon
Wear appropriate clothing and footwear
Take your litter home with you
Results
5pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (Dirt) 1,000m, Winner: Hazeem Al Raed, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ahmed Al Shemaili (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 85,000 (D) 1,000m, Winner: Ghazwan Al Khalediah, Hugo Lebouc, Helal Al Alawi
6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,400m, Winner: Dinar Al Khalediah, Patrick Cosgrave, Helal Al Alawi.
6.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Faith And Fortune, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
7pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Only Smoke, Bernardo Pinheiro, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: AF Ramz, Saif Al Balushi, Khalifa Al Neyadi.
8pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 2,000m, Winner: AF Mass, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.
AGUERO'S PREMIER LEAGUE RECORD
Apps: 186
Goals: 127
Assists: 31
Wins: 117
Losses: 33
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
MATCH INFO
Crawley Town 3 (Tsaroulla 50', Nadesan 53', Tunnicliffe 70')
Leeds United 0
Getting%20there
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BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Swiss fly direct from the UAE to Zurich from Dh2,855 return, including taxes.
The chalet
Chalet N is currently open in winter only, between now and April 21. During the ski season, starting on December 11, a week’s rental costs from €210,000 (Dh898,431) per week for the whole property, which has 22 beds in total, across six suites, three double rooms and a children’s suite. The price includes all scheduled meals, a week’s ski pass, Wi-Fi, parking, transfers between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airports and one 50-minute massage per person. Private ski lessons cost from €360 (Dh1,541) per day. Halal food is available on request.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
What is the definition of an SME?
SMEs in the UAE are defined by the number of employees, annual turnover and sector. For example, a “small company” in the services industry has six to 50 employees with a turnover of more than Dh2 million up to Dh20m, while in the manufacturing industry the requirements are 10 to 100 employees with a turnover of more than Dh3m up to Dh50m, according to Dubai SME, an agency of the Department of Economic Development.
A “medium-sized company” can either have staff of 51 to 200 employees or 101 to 250 employees, and a turnover less than or equal to Dh200m or Dh250m, again depending on whether the business is in the trading, manufacturing or services sectors.
Safety 'top priority' for rival hyperloop company
The chief operating officer of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Andres de Leon, said his company's hyperloop technology is “ready” and safe.
He said the company prioritised safety throughout its development and, last year, Munich Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance companies, announced it was ready to insure their technology.
“Our levitation, propulsion, and vacuum technology have all been developed [...] over several decades and have been deployed and tested at full scale,” he said in a statement to The National.
“Only once the system has been certified and approved will it move people,” he said.
HyperloopTT has begun designing and engineering processes for its Abu Dhabi projects and hopes to break ground soon.
With no delivery date yet announced, Mr de Leon said timelines had to be considered carefully, as government approval, permits, and regulations could create necessary delays.
Specs – Taycan 4S
Engine: Electric
Transmission: 2-speed auto
Power: 571bhp
Torque: 650Nm
Price: Dh431,800
Specs – Panamera
Engine: 3-litre V6 with 100kW electric motor
Transmission: 2-speed auto
Power: 455bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: from Dh431,800
MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Ajax v Juventus, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match on BeIN Sports
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