UAE conglomerate plans legal action against Lebanon over $1.7B investment losses

BEIRUT (AP) — A conglomerate based in the United Arab Emirates said Monday it will take legal action against Lebanese authorities over a dispute regarding its investments in the crisis-hit country, saying it has suffered $1.7 billion in investment losses.

The Dubai-based Al Habtoor Group’s businesses in Lebanon were hit hard by the country’s historic economic meltdown that broke out in late 2019. The country also suffered from the 14-month Israel-Hezbollah war for which the World Bank estimates the costs of reconstruction and recovery at $11 billion.

Lebanon’s economic meltdown, rooted in decades of corruption and mismanagement by the country’s ruling class, deprived people and businesses in the country of accessing their money stuck in the banking sector.

Al Habtoor Group runs among other things a hotel in a Beirut suburb as well as Habtoor Land, a giant theme park east of the Lebanese capital. Last year, Al Habtoor Group said it reversed plans to dismantle the Metropolitan Palace Hotel in Beirut.

Al Habtoor Group said that in recent years, its investments “have suffered severe and sustained harm” as a direct result of measures and restrictions imposed by Lebanese authorities and the central bank of Lebanon that prevented the Group from “freely accessing and transferring lawfully deposited funds held in Lebanese banks.”

It said that the situation was compounded by the prolonged political, economic, financial and social crises facing Lebanon and the country’s failure to ensure a stable and secure environment for operations and investments. It said damages and losses to the Group’s assets and properties in Lebanon exceed $1.7 billion.

Al Habtoor Group said it remains open to “lawful and constructive solutions” that restore its rights in full and respect the commitments of all parties. It said that the group has exhausted all reasonable and good-faith efforts to resolve this dispute amicably, and now “has no other alternative but to advance this matter further and proceed to take all legal measures necessary to protect and enforce its rights under applicable international agreements and legal frameworks.”

The statement did not clearly state where the legal action will be taken.

Officials at the prime minister's office were not imemdiately available for comment.

The move comes as Lebanon has been improving its relations with oil-rich Arab countries in the gulf after years of tensions over the wide influence in the country of the militant Hezbollah group.

Hezbollah was severely weakened by the latest war with Israel that ended with a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in November 2024.

A new president and prime minister took office in Lebanon last year and both have vowed to fight corruption.

FILE - Emirati business magnate Khalaf al-Habtoor, chairman of the Al Habtoor Group, visits the Umayyad Mosque as part of a delegation trip to explore investment opportunities in Syria, in the Old City of Damascus on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Albam, File)

A general view of the Habtoor hotel, in Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

The Habtoor Hotel, center, is seen along Beirut's skyline, Lebanon, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

Cars pass next to Habtoor hotel, left, in Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Wearable fitness trackers will likely be OK for players to use in future editions of the Australian Open, where leading players Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka have been asked to remove their devices in matches this year.

Alcaraz and Sinner, who have split the last eight major men's singles titles between them, were approached by chair umpires during the fourth round to take off the straps they usually wear on their wrists.

Video of the interactions has drawn attention to a conflict between regular tournaments and the four majors. Sabalenka dealt with it earlier in the tournament.

The devices are widely used in elite sports to collect physiological data that provides insights about health and performance in training, competition, recovery and sleep.

The technology is approved for use by the International Tennis Federation and by the men's and women's tours. So far, the approval hasn't extended to the four Grand Slam tournaments which include the Australian, French and U.S. Opens and Wimbledon.

So, that's why the chair umpire approached top-ranked Alcaraz during his fourth-round match against Tommy Paul and asked him to take it off. The 22-year-old Alcaraz immediately complied, taking off his sweatband and removing the strap.

“Wearables are currently not permitted at Grand Slams,” Tennis Australia said in a statement. “The Australian Open is involved in ongoing discussions on how this situation could change.”

Tennis Australia said some wearables provide athletes with an indication of internal load — measures such as heart rate — “which can give them a 360-degree view of the work they’re doing and how their bodies’ respond.”

Tournament organizers said players had access to data at the Australian Open that helped them monitor “key external load measures” such as distance covered, changes of direction, high acceleration events and speed and spin of shots.

The technology provider, WHOOP, describes it as “your 24/7 wearable coach designed to help you improve your health, fitness, and longevity.”

In a social media post, the company said the technology is “performance-enhancing — by design. That’s the whole point."

“Taking that insight away is like asking athletes to play blind.”

Sinner, the two-time Australian Open winner, said the data collected from his wrist device during matches helps with recovery and preparation for future matches.

“There is certain data what we would like to track a little bit on court. It’s not for the live thing,” he said. "It’s more about you can see after the match. These are data we would like to use also in practice sessions because from that you can practice on with the heart rate, how much calories you burn, all these kind of things."

After his fourth-round win over fellow Italian Luciano Darderi, Sinner said he also accepted the umpire's decision immediately.

“It’s fine. There are other things we could use — (like) the vest. But it’s a bit for me uncomfortable — you feel like you have something on the shoulders. It’s a bit different,” he said. “But rules are rules. I understand. I won’t use it again.”

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus signs autographs after defeating to Iva Jovic of the U.S. in their quarterfinal match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain plays a forehand return to Tommy Paul of the U.S.during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)

Jannik Sinner of Italy plays a forehand return to his compatriot Luciano Darderi during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)