Khalaf Al Habtoor, six other individuals, and five Al Habtoor Group companies are suing Lebanon at the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). They invoke the 1998 Lebanon-UAE bilateral investment treaty and allege losses of more than $1.7B on hotels, real estate, and blocked bank deposits. The claimants’ arbitrator accepted his appointment in July 2026, but the tribunal was still being formed in October 2026.
Latest development Oct 6, 2026
On October 6, 2026, an arbitration tracker’s quarterly review described the case as the seventh publicly known investment arbitration against Lebanon. It reported that the tribunal was still being formed. The International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) lists no arbitrator appointed by Lebanon and no president.
Why it matters
The tribunal will decide whether Lebanon is liable under a bilateral investment treaty for losses the claimants tie to its financial crisis. The outcome could guide other foreign investors who lost access to funds in Lebanon’s 2019 crisis.
Background
Al Habtoor Group, the Dubai conglomerate founded by Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor in 1970, says it invested about $1B in Lebanon. Its investments include Hilton-branded hotels, a shopping mall, the Habtoor Land leisure complex, and other real estate, as well as deposits in Lebanese banks. Lebanon’s financial crisis began in 2019. The group says the government and the central bank, Banque du Liban, have since blocked it from freely moving more than $44M held in Lebanese banks.
On January 10, 2024, the group announced that it had served a notice of dispute under the 1998 Lebanon-UAE bilateral investment treaty (BIT). The notice started a six-month cooling-off period. In January 2026, the group said its losses in Lebanon exceeded $1.7B and went beyond blocked deposits. It also said it would cease all operations there. In February 2026, it appointed White & Case. On April 23, 2026, it announced that it had filed a request for arbitration at the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).
ICSID registered the case on May 21, 2026, as Case No. ARB/26/22. The claimants are Khalaf Al Habtoor, six other individuals, and five group companies, including Jamhour Village SAL and Metropolitan City Center SAL. White & Case acts for the claimants. Lebanon is represented by its Ministry of Justice and Bredin Prat. A docket entry recorded a filing on party representatives dated May 28, 2026.
On July 7, 2026, R. Doak Bishop accepted his appointment as the claimants’ arbitrator. ICSID lists no arbitrator appointed by Lebanon and no president. On October 6, 2026, an arbitration tracker’s quarterly review described the case as the seventh publicly known investment arbitration against Lebanon. It reported that the tribunal was still being formed.
Timeline 12 events
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OrderArbitration tracker reports tribunal still being formed
An arbitration tracker’s quarterly review described the case as the seventh publicly known investment arbitration against Lebanon and noted the tribunal was still being formed.
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OrderR. Doak Bishop accepts appointment as the claimants’ arbitrator
Bishop accepted his appointment by the claimants. ICSID lists no arbitrator appointed by Lebanon and no president yet.
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OrderDocket records filing on party representatives
A Jus Mundi docket entry recorded a filing on party representatives dated May 28, 2026, as the case moved toward tribunal constitution.
Khalaf Ahmad Mohammad Alhabtoor and others v. Lebanese Republic, Party Representatives
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OrderICSID registers Al Habtoor’s claim as ARB/26/22
ICSID registered the request for arbitration, formally opening the case against Lebanon.
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OrderICSID registers the Al Habtoor claim against Lebanon
The claimants brought the case under the 1998 Lebanon-UAE bilateral investment treaty.
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FilingAl Habtoor Group files ICSID request for arbitration
The group submitted its request for arbitration and supporting documentation to ICSID in Washington, D.C., and Lebanon was formally notified.
Official StatementAl Habtoor Group Launches Global Arbitration Against Lebanon at ICSID Over Investment Dispute
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FilingAl Habtoor Group files request for arbitration at ICSID
The group announced that its request for arbitration had been sent through ICSID and that Lebanon had been notified.
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OrderAl Habtoor Group confirms it has hired White & Case
The group said it had hired White & Case for the treaty claim. It said it was in the final stages of preparing to file arbitration in Washington, D.C.
Al Habtoor appoints law firm to begin arbitration against Lebanon in the US
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OtherAl Habtoor Group hires White & Case, plans to leave Lebanon
The group said it was in the final stages of preparing arbitration and would cease all operations in Lebanon.
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OtherAl Habtoor Group announces Lebanon exit and layoffs
The group said it would cease all operations in Lebanon and terminate remaining employees, citing prolonged instability and financial strain tied to the dispute.
Al Habtoor Group to cease operations in Lebanon and fire all employees
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OtherAl Habtoor Group puts its Lebanon losses above $1.7B
The group attributed most of the losses to measures by Lebanese authorities and Banque du Liban that blocked access to its deposits, and said it was preparing legal action.
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OrderAl Habtoor Group serves notice of treaty dispute on Lebanon
The group alleged breaches of the Lebanon-UAE bilateral investment treaty, including restrictions on moving more than $44M held in Lebanese banks. The notice started a six-month cooling-off period.
Experimental AI forecast
How it is made- Predicted outcome
- Insufficient evidence
- Model confidence
- Low
The record is too thin for a calibrated forecast. ICSID registered the case on May 21, 2026, but only the claimants’ arbitrator has accepted appointment and no tribunal exists. A forecast becomes possible once the tribunal is constituted and a procedural calendar, a bifurcation decision, or settlement talks appear on the record.
Tribunal not yet constituted, Lebanon has not appointed · No procedural calendar or bifurcation decision on record · Likely jurisdictional objections over deposits and local companies · Lebanon’s fiscal crisis limits capacity to pay or settle
Generated automatically by Claude Opus 5.5 on Oct 18, 2026 from this case’s record on this site, and published without editorial review. The probabilities are the model’s judgment, not measured frequencies, and they are scored publicly as cases resolve. Not legal or investment advice. How the forecasts are made