Beirut Airport again raises currency conversion rate
January 31, 2020, 12:33 pm

Beirut Airport again raises currency conversion rate

A girl has the national flag draped over her shoulders as riot police stand guard, during the ongoing anti-government protest, in Beirut, Lebanon, November 19, 2019. (Reuters)

The Beirut Airport again raised its currency conversion rates to 1,950 Lebanese lire to $1.

On Twitter, journalist Jacob Boswall shared a photo of the new sign at the airport saying, “Another month, another exchange rate at #Beirut International Airport. A month ago it was 1750 ...”

https://twitter.com/Boswall_Jacob/status/1223111889451810816

The official peg is 1,500 lira to $1, though due to the country’s deteriorating economic situation, the peg has been under pressure since October, slipping further from the official value. Market exchange rates have hit upwards of 2,000 lire recently.

Fed up with economic conditions in the country, protesters have been on the streets in Lebanon for more than three months calling for a new government, which was recently appointed after former Prime Minister Saad Hariri resigned at the end of October. The new government, headed by Prime Minister Hassan Diab inherits an economic and currency crisis that he and the new cabinet will now set to improve. The new government recently passed a controversial 2020 state budget that will aim to help the ailing economy.

Lebanon is one of the world’s most indebted nations, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 151 percent, according to the International Monetary Fund.

Banks have tightened their grip since October to prevent capital flight, with capital controls applied unevenly across the sector. With some daily withdrawal limits as low as $200 or $300, dollars have become a hot commodity in the country that relies on dollars to pay for much-needed imports, including food. The small country imports 80 percent of its food, according to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization.

Lebanon’s central bank on January 30 announced it would ease capital controls in the country, allowing for cash withdrawals of up to 25 million lire per month and transfers abroad up to $50,000 per year for “necessary matters.”

The shortage of dollars in the country is in part caused by a slowing

of remittances sent from abroad due to slowing economies in places like the Arabian Gulf and South America that are home to large populations of the Lebanese diaspora.

source: Lauren Holtmeier

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.