A major conglomerate from the United Arab Emirates, Al Habtoor Group, has announced plans to pursue legal action against Lebanese authorities, citing losses of over $1.7 billion tied to its investments in Lebanon. The group, which operates a hotel and a theme park near Beirut, claims that measures imposed by Lebanese officials and the central bank have prevented it from accessing its funds, causing severe financial harm. The economic crisis in Lebanon, which began in 2019 and has been fueled by longstanding corruption and mismanagement, has hit both citizens and businesses hard, with many unable to retrieve their money from local banks. Al Habtoor Group says the ongoing instability and restrictions have made it impossible to maintain a secure environment for its operations, leading to significant damages.