Real Estate Owner plans to cut up and remove five-star hotel from Beirut By Nadim Kawach April 29, 2025, 9:49 AM Alamy via Reuters The Metropolitan Palace Hotel (formerly the Hilton) in Beirut, owned by UAE billionaire Khalaf Al-Habtoor Hotel to be shipped out in pieces Billionaire ends Lebanon investment Other properties to be sold UAE billionaire Khalaf Al-Habtoor is considering hiring a Chinese company to deconstruct his five-star hotel in Beirut and move it to another country, following a decision in January to end all investment in Lebanon. Al-Habtoor is considering dividing the 185-room Metropolitan Palace Hotel into pieces and shipping the parts by sea out of Lebanon, possibly to neighbouring Syria or through it, according to a video published on X at the weekend. Al-Habtoor discussed the plan with aides and an engineer from state-owned China Railway Construction Corporation and said that he believes the idea is feasible, according to the video. “This morning, I met with the engineering team at #AlHabtoorGroup, along with our consultants and the Chinese contracting company at #AlHabtoorCity, to study the relocation of a building we own from one country to another,” Al-Habtoor said. “I am pleased that the study has been completed, and the results are very promising. I am excited to see this challenging idea transform into reality very soon, God willing,” he said. An engineer, identified only as Salamah, said the plan includes slicing the 15-storey hotel into pieces and transporting them to Beirut port, where they will then be shipped abroad. He said similar exercises had previously been conducted successfully in China and Japan. In January Al-Habtoor said he was launching a legal claim against the Lebanese government, accusing the authorities of being in breach of a 1999 investment treaty with the UAE. IMF says Lebanon needs new strategy to reboot economy There’s no easy fix for Lebanon’s banking collapse Lebanon passes banking secrecy law Al-Habtoor also said he plans to sell all his properties and investments in Lebanon, where he controls more than $1 billion in real estate, including a shopping mall and a theme park. “This is not a mere property investment loss but a big slap to Lebanon’s reputation,” Lebanese journalist Tony Bolous said on X on Sunday. “Al-Habtoor’s pullout means a big blow to confidence in Lebanon and to any hope of fully reviving the country’s wrecked economy.” Register now: It’s easy and free AGBI registered members can access even more of our unique analysis and perspective on business and economics in the Middle East. Why sign uP Exclusive weekly email from our editor-in-chief Personalised weekly emails for your preferred industry sectors Read and download our insight packed white papers Access to our mobile app Prioritised access to live events Register for free Already registered? Sign in I’ll register later
