Lebanon’s economy has long been sluggish. Now a crisis looms
But the country’s politicians are busy haggling over cabinet posts
THE main feature of Beirut’s skyline is not minarets or church steeples, but construction cranes. From the roof of a posh downtown hotel you can see 17 of them, throwing up luxury apartments that cost up to $1m each. Wealthy Lebanese sip wine on their terraces and discuss investment opportunities. They rub shoulders with Gulf tourists drawn by Beirut’s libertine nightlife. Lebanon’s economy relies on tourism, construction and finance for growth. All three seem to be thriving.
This article appeared in the Middle East & Africa section of the print edition under the headline “When the music stops”
From the September 1st 2018 edition
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