RIYADH: Al Habtoor Group will permanently close all operations in Lebanon, it has announced, citing prolonged instability, hostile campaigns, and failed negotiations with the Lebanese government.
The decision marks the end of the Group’s 25-year presence in the country, which began with the opening of its first hotel in 2001. The closure will result in the termination of contracts for all employees in the country.
In an official statement, the Dubai-based group said that the decision comes against the backdrop of “prolonged instability, ongoing hostile campaigns, public attacks, and defamatory actions directed at the Group and its businesses, as well as the broader legal proceedings currently underway between the Group and the Lebanese Government.”
The statement added: “The cumulative impact of these factors has rendered the continuation of operations unsustainable at this time.”
The Group acknowledged the “human and professional implications” of its decision, and it came following a “long history of resilience and commitment.”
