Syrian refugee entrepreneurship in Lebanon: A 13-year-old Syrian girl in eastern Lebanon is turning crochet into a potential micro-business, using colorful yarn and steady practice to help support her family after displacement. Tourism & local jobs in Oman: Musandam is pushing to become a sustainable tourism and investment hub, betting on infrastructure upgrades and a diversified tourism mix under Oman Vision 2040. Saudi digital push at LEAP 2026: stc group wrapped up LEAP 2026 with major deals (AWS, AMD, Ericsson), aiming to scale AI-ready data centers, connectivity, and cloud services for sectors like logistics and smart construction. UAE fintech for trade payments: XTransfer received in-principle approval for a retail payment services licence from the UAE Central Bank, targeting mainland UAE clients for cross-border trade payments. Dubai real estate growth signal: Peace Homes Development joined IPS 2026 as a Platinum Sponsor, highlighting multiple Dubai launches and expansion across key districts. Bahrain innovation awards: The Bahrain Association of Banks named an independent judging panel for the Digital Innovation Awards 2026, spanning AI, digital transformation, governance and fintech. Lebanon/Palestine business cover: A report on a Gaza operation describes how “small business” cover stalls were allegedly used for surveillance, underscoring risks for micro-traders in conflict zones. Israel daily life amid war: A feature on an Israeli family in a mixed religious-secular community looks at household costs and housing pressures during wartime.