A man walks along a street in the devastated Syrian city of Raqqa on January 9, 2018. AFP
A man walks along a street in the devastated Syrian city of Raqqa on January 9, 2018. AFP
A man walks along a street in the devastated Syrian city of Raqqa on January 9, 2018. AFP
A man walks along a street in the devastated Syrian city of Raqqa on January 9, 2018. AFP

Lebanese businesses eye opportunities in Syria


  • English
  • Arabic

Even before the guns fall silent, Lebanese businesses are eyeing a potential gold rush in Syria, a country badly in need of rebuilding after nearly seven years of war.

“Lebanese contractors are preparing themselves,” said Maroun Helou, the general manager of Abnieh Engineering and Contracting. “The president of the Syrian contractors’ syndicate is planning to come to Lebanon to discuss this. A lot of Lebanese companies are restoring their offices in Damascus.”

Mr Helou said his firm, which is responsible for a number of  highly visible projects around Lebanon, including Middle East Airline’s new headquarters in Beirut, has already been contacted by a number of private companies in Syria and was preparing a bid on one project, a commercial tower in the coastal city of Tartous.

Though the Syrian government has not yet begun open bidding on public infrastructure projects, there is hope that Lebanon’s economy, which has suffered economically from the war in Syria, would also be a beneficiary of any eventual reconstruction boom.

“A lot of our banks already have a presence in Syria and our banking system is already well-developed,” said Raya El Hassan, who served as Lebanon’s finance minister from 2009 to 2011 and is now the head of the special economic zone in the northern city of Tripoli.

In a best-case scenario for Tripoli, which has suffered from decades of economic stagnation, the city’s proximity to the Syrian border and its port would make it a logistics hub for international corporations and contractors doing work in Syria. Construction of a rail line that would link Tripoli to Homs, Syria’s third largest city, is also under consideration.

Lebanese and Syrian contractors that spoke to The National said that Chinese firms have also been eyeing contracts in Syria. One Lebanese contractor who was recently in Homs to discuss possible work said the number of Chinese officials staying at one local hotel made him feel like he was "in Beijing".

“We’re receiving a lot of interest from Chinese delegations, both public and private, who are eyeing Tripoli, and I think they have in mind how they can use Tripoli as a hub to service Syria reconstruction,” Ms El Hassan said.

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There are, however, many unanswered questions. When rebuilding does begin — which could be within months, rather than years — politics will inevitably play a role. Officially, Lebanon’s government has yet to normalize its relationship with Syria, and the international donor community also remains at loggerheads over which countries will fund much of the work.

“There is a lot of talk, but we need to know who will finance the reconstruction of Syria — that’s the real issue,” Mr Helou said.

American and European sanctions against the Syrian government mean it is likely that countries supporting Syrian president Bashar Al Assad in his fight against the rebels that seek to overthrow him will be the main beneficiaries of public reconstruction contracts. Representatives of EU nations as well as the US have said any financial contributions to reconstruction should be contingent on Mr Al Assad reaching a political deal with the rebels, and in the case of the US, such a deal must involve Mr Al Assad leaving office.

“I think the companies interested in Syria are Russian, Iranian and Chinese,” Mr Helou said. However, he envisions Lebanese companies having a large subcontracting role.

The prime minister of Lebanon, Saad Hariri, the son of a construction magnate whose family company helped build the presidential palace in which Mr Al Assad now resides, has come out in support of the position that reconstruction donations should be used to pressure Mr Assad into accepting a political solution to the conflict.

“When we talked about Lebanon being involved in the reconstruction of Syria, we were saying that we should start building the infrastructure in Lebanon, so companies that would like to go to Syria and do the reconstruction there can use the Lebanese expertise after the conflict ends,” Mr Hariri told a conference in Beirut late last year. “I believe that the EU position is the right position and will put pressure on the regime and on all countries to find a political solution.”

That position could make it difficult for Lebanese companies to work as primary contractors on Syrian government tenders.

“The prime minister is not willing to talk about normalisation of relations at this point, but that does not mean that the Lebanese private sector won’t have a problem exporting products and services to Syria,” Ms El Hassan said. “We will not optimise our role if the political situation stays as it is. But I don’t see the hurdle being addressed in the future.”

Mr Helou said Lebanese businesses would have to wait and see whether a new Lebanese government will remove the obstacle. "Nothing will be treated seriously before September 2018, because you have elections in May [for the Lebanese parliament] and then you have to form your government," he said. Nonetheless, he remains optimistic. "There is a feeling of hope in Lebanon at all levels that 2018 will be better than 2017."

Other businessmen seem to agree with him.

“We have been receiving some prospects — perhaps a franchise inside Syria,” said Yassin Yassin, a businessman based about 20km away from the Syrian border in the city of Tanayel, in eastern Lebanon. Mr Yassin’s current project is Homescape, a warehouse-style store that will stock building and home improvement materials that he describes as “similar to Home Depot in US”.

Eastern Lebanon’s economy has in particular has suffered from the conflict in Syria. The closure of Syria’s border with Jordan has meant farmers and manufacturers in eastern Lebanon have been forced to ship their goods to customers in the Gulf by sea rather than overland.

“It costs five times as much,” said Mr Yassin. He has plans to open a franchise of his new store in Jordan — a task that would be considerably easier if it were possible to transit through Syria.

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Farage on Muslim Brotherhood

Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.

Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale

Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni

Director: Amith Krishnan

Rating: 3.5/5

BMW M5 specs

Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor

Power: 727hp

Torque: 1,000Nm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh650,000

Infiniti QX80 specs

Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6

Power: 450hp

Torque: 700Nm

Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000

Available: Now

CONFIRMED%20LINE-UP
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Our legal consultants

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

The five pillars of Islam
if you go
RESULT

Aston Villa 1
Samatta (41')
Manchester City 2
Aguero (20')
Rodri (30')

The story of Edge

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, established Edge in 2019.

It brought together 25 state-owned and independent companies specialising in weapons systems, cyber protection and electronic warfare.

Edge has an annual revenue of $5 billion and employs more than 12,000 people.

Some of the companies include Nimr, a maker of armoured vehicles, Caracal, which manufactures guns and ammunitions company, Lahab

 

MATCH INFO

Manchester City 1 Chelsea 0
De Bruyne (70')

Man of the Match: Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City)

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

The Dictionary of Animal Languages
Heidi Sopinka
​​​​​​​Scribe

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

 

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

THE RESULTS

5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m

Winner: Alnawar, Connor Beasley (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)

5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m

Winner: Raniah, Noel Garbutt, Ernst Oertel

6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh90,000 2,200m

Winner: Saarookh, Richard Mullen, Ana Mendez

6.30pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown (PA) Rated Conditions Dh125,000 1,600m

Winner: RB Torch, Tadhg O’Shea, Eric Lemartinel

7pm: Al Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap Dh70,000 1,600m

Winner: MH Wari, Antonio Fresu, Elise Jeane

7.30pm: Handicap Dh90,000 1,600m

Winner: Mailshot, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer

 

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20NOTHING%20PHONE%20(2a)
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War

Director: Siddharth Anand

Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff, Ashutosh Rana, Vaani Kapoor

Rating: Two out of five stars 

How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
  1. Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
  2. Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
  3. Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
  4. Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
  5. Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
  6. The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
  7. Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269

*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year

The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
UK's plans to cut net migration

Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.

Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.

But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.

Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.

Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.

The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.

The specs: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ

Price, base: Dh1,731,672

Engine: 6.5-litre V12

Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic

Power: 770hp @ 8,500rpm

Torque: 720Nm @ 6,750rpm

Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km

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

War and the virus
Key findings of Jenkins report
  • Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
  • Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
  • Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
  • Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
War 2

Director: Ayan Mukerji

Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana

Rating: 2/5

The Facility’s Versatility

Between the start of the 2020 IPL on September 20, and the end of the Pakistan Super League this coming Thursday, the Zayed Cricket Stadium has had an unprecedented amount of traffic.
Never before has a ground in this country – or perhaps anywhere in the world – had such a volume of major-match cricket.
And yet scoring has remained high, and Abu Dhabi has seen some classic encounters in every format of the game.
 
October 18, IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders tied with Sunrisers Hyderabad
The two playoff-chasing sides put on 163 apiece, before Kolkata went on to win the Super Over
 
January 8, ODI, UAE beat Ireland by six wickets
A century by CP Rizwan underpinned one of UAE’s greatest ever wins, as they chased 270 to win with an over to spare
 
February 6, T10, Northern Warriors beat Delhi Bulls by eight wickets
The final of the T10 was chiefly memorable for a ferocious over of fast bowling from Fidel Edwards to Nicholas Pooran
 
March 14, Test, Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by six wickets
Eleven wickets for Rashid Khan, 1,305 runs scored in five days, and a last session finish
 
June 17, PSL, Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi by 15 runs
Usman Khawaja scored a hundred as Islamabad posted the highest score ever by a Pakistan team in T20 cricket

The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Power: 510hp at 9,000rpm
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Price: From Dh801,800
The Voice of Hind Rajab

Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees

Director: Kaouther Ben Hania

Rating: 4/5

The specs: 2018 Mazda CX-5

Price, base / as tested: Dh89,000 / Dh130,000
Engine: 2.5-litre four-cylinder
Power: 188hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 251Nm @ 4,000rpm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
​​​​​​​Fuel consumption, combined: 7.1L / 100km

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The%20specs
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Company%20profile
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Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHakbah%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2018%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENaif%20AbuSaida%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESaudi%20Arabia%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E22%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%24200%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Epre-Series%20A%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EGlobal%20Ventures%20and%20Aditum%20Investment%20Management%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

Company%C2%A0profile
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Spec%20sheet
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Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

The specs: 2018 Maxus T60

Price, base / as tested: Dh48,000

Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinder

Power: 136hp @ 1,600rpm

Torque: 360Nm @ 1,600 rpm

Transmission: Five-speed manual

Fuel consumption, combined: 9.1L / 100km

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
While you're here
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THE SPECS

Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine 

Power: 420kW

Torque: 780Nm

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

Price: From Dh1,350,000

On sale: Available for preorder now