POD Challenge - Stronger Lebanon/Beirut

Since the Phoenicians, Lebanon and specifically Beirut acted as a center of trade and culture for the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East. While they are currently rebuilding their economy, Beirut has lost it's importance in the region.

What POD's could have had the Economy and Status of Lebanon/Beirut grow over through the 20th century, and have Beirut be a world wide trade and financial center, like Dubai has become for the middle east in OTL.

Note: I'm hoping for something beyond "Don't have the Civil War happen"
 
Perhaps when under French Mandate the French expand the territory of Lebonan and create some sort of "Phonecia" and maybe chop Syria into seperate states with Britan in Iraq like a Kurdistan, Assyria, ect...

Then it becomes a nuetral secular oil exporter in the middle east and uses the oil wealth to build its economy and becomes a center of trade.

Thats the best I can come up with, unless you want a POD earlier during the Ottoman era.
 
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