Beirut#Middle Ages

The English name Beirut is an early transcription of the Arabic name {{lang|ar-latn|Bayrūt}} ({{lang|ar|بيروت}}). The same name's transcription into French is {{lang|fr|Beyrouth}}, which was sometimes used during Lebanon's French mandate. The Arabic name derives from Phoenician bēʾrūt ({{lang|phn|𐤁𐤀{{rlm}}𐤓𐤕{{lrm}}}} {{lang|phn-Latn|bʾrt}}). This was a modification of the Canaanite and Phoenician word {{lang|phn-Latn|bīʾrōt}} later bēʾrūt, meaning "wells",{{Cite web |title=Beirut {{!}} Etymology of Beirut by etymonline |url=https://www.etymonline.com/word/Beirut |access-date=2025-03-12 |website=www.etymonline.com |language=en}} in reference to the site's accessible water table.The New Encyclopædia Britannica (1993), Macropædia, volume 14, 15th edition, Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., Chicago.[https://web.archive.org/web/20071015223704/http://lebanonembassyus.org/country_lebanon/history.html Profile of Lebanon: History], on the former website of the Lebanese Embassy of the U.S. The name is first attested in the 14th{{nbsp}}century{{nbsp}}BC, when it was mentioned in three Akkadian cuneiform tablets of the Amarna letters,EA 141-43. letters sent by King Ammunira of Biruta[http://www.case.edu/univlib/preserve/Etana/encyl_biblica_l-p/philologus-pildash.pdf Phoenicia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325132551/http://www.case.edu/univlib/preserve/Etana/encyl_biblica_l-p/philologus-pildash.pdf |date=25 March 2009 }}, in Encyclopaedia Biblica, Case Western Reserve University. to {{nowrap|Amenhotep III}} or {{nowrap|Amenhotep IV}} of Egypt.{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Phoenicia|volume=21|page=451|first=George Albert|last=Cooke}} Biruta was also mentioned in the Amarna letters from King Rib-Hadda of Byblos.E.g., EA 105, where he complains to the pharaoh that Beirut's king had stolen two of his merchants' ships.

The Greeks hellenised the name as {{lang|grc-Latn|Bērytós}} ({{langx|grc|Βηρυτός}}), which the Romans latinised as {{lang|la|Berytus|italics=no}}.{{efn|The Roman name was taken in 1934 for the archaeological journal published by the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at the American University of Beirut.[http://ddc.aub.edu.lb/projects/archaeology/berytus-back/berytus39/ Berytus Archeological Studies] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071023222512/http://ddc.aub.edu.lb/projects/archaeology/berytus-back/berytus39 |date=23 October 2007}}, American University of Beirut (AUB).}} When it attained the status of a Roman colony, it was notionally refounded and its official name was emended to {{lang|la|Colonia Iulia Augusta Felix Berytus}} to include its imperial sponsors.

At the time of the crusades, the city was known in French as Barut or Baruth.

{{main|History of Beirut}}

{{For timeline}}

The earliest settlement of Beirut was on an island in the Beirut River, but the channel that separated it from the banks silted up and the island ceased to be. Excavations in the downtown area have unearthed layers of Phoenician, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Crusader, Persian and Ottoman remains.{{cite web |url=http://wwwlb.aub.edu.lb/~webpubof/research/21report/as/hist_projects.html |title=Research Projects – History and Archeology |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206033532/http://wwwlb.aub.edu.lb/~webpubof/research/21report/as/hist_projects.html |archive-date=6 December 2008 |work=American University of Beirut (AUB)}}

File:Canaanean Blade.jpg. Suggested to be part of a javelin. Fresh grey flint, both sides showing pressure flaking. Somewhat narrower at the base, suggesting a haft. Polished at the extreme point. Found on land of the Lebanese Evangelical School for Girls in the Patriarchate area of Beirut.]]Beirut was settled over 5,000 years ago,[https://www.nytimes.com/1997/02/23/world/under-beirut-s-rubble-remnants-of-5000-years-of-civilization.html Under Beirut's Rubble, Remnants of 5,000 Years of Civilization] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206194528/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9404E2D9103EF930A15751C0A961958260 |date=6 December 2008 }}– NYTimes 23 February 1997 and there is evidence that the surrounding area had already been inhabited for tens of thousands of years prior to this. Several prehistoric archaeological sites have been discovered within the urban area of Beirut, revealing flint tools from sequential periods dating from the Middle Palaeolithic and Upper Paleolithic through the Neolithic to the Bronze Age.

Beirut{{nbsp}}I (Minet el-Hosn) was listed as "the town of Beirut" ({{langx|fr|Beyrouth ville}}) by Louis Burkhalter and said to be on the beach near the Orient and Bassoul hotels on the Avenue des Français in central Beirut.Burkhalter, L., Bibliographie préhistorique (à suivre) (List of prehistoric sites, continuation and end), Bulletin du Musée de Beyrouth. Tome VIII, 1946–1948, Beyrouth, in-4° br., 173 pages.Burkhalter L., Bibliographie préhistorique (suite et fin) (List of prehistoric sites, continuation and end), Bulletin du Musée de Beyrouth. Tome IX, 1949–1950, Beyrouth, in-4° br., 117 pages. The site was discovered by Lortet in 1894 and discussed by Godefroy Zumoffen in 1900.{{cite book |author=Godefroy Zumoffen |title=La Phénicie avant les phéniciens: l'âge de la pierre |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0noLAQAAIAAJ |year=1900 |publisher=Impr. catholique}} The flint industry from the site was described as Mousterian and is held by the Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon.{{cite book |author1=Lorraine Copeland |author2=P. Wescombe |title=Inventory of Stone-Age sites in Lebanon, p. 73-75 and see fig. XVII on p. 163 for drawing by Peter. J. Wescombe of the javelin found at Beirut VI |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6YsRRwAACAAJ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20111224033744/http://books.google.com/books?id=6YsRRwAACAAJ |archive-date=24 December 2011 |year=1965 |publisher=Imprimerie Catholique}}

Beirut{{nbsp}}II (Umm el-Khatib) was suggested by Burkhalter to have been south of Tarik el Jedideh, where P.E. Gigues discovered a Copper Age flint industry at around {{convert|100|m|ft|0|abbr=off}} above sea level. The site had been built on and destroyed by 1948.

Beirut{{nbsp}}III (Furn esh-Shebbak), listed as {{lang|fr|Plateau Tabet}}, was suggested to have been located on the left bank of the Beirut River. Burkhalter suggested that it was west of the Damascus road, although this determination has been criticized by Lorraine Copeland. P. E. Gigues discovered a series of Neolithic flint tools on the surface along with the remains of a structure suggested to be a hut circle. Auguste Bergy discussed polished axes that were also found at this site, which has now completely disappeared as a result of construction and urbanization of the area.Bergy, Auguste. "La paléolithique ancien stratifié à Ras Beyrouth". Mélanges de l'Université Saint Joseph, Volume 16, 5–6, 1932.

Beirut{{nbsp}}IV (Furn esh-Shebbak, river banks) was also on the left bank of the river and on either side of the road leading eastwards from the Furn esh Shebbak police station towards the river that marked the city limits. The area was covered in red sand that represented Quaternary river terraces. The site was found by Jesuit Father Dillenseger and published by fellow Jesuits Godefroy Zumoffen, Raoul DescribesDescribes, Raoul. "Quelques ateliers paléolithiques des environs de Beyrouth", Mélanges de l'Université Saint-Joseph, Volume VII, 1921. and Auguste Bergy. Collections from the site were made by Bergy, Describes and another Jesuit, Paul Bovier-Lapierre. Many Middle Paleolithic flint tools were found on the surface and in side gullies that drain into the river. They included around 50 varied bifaces accredited to the Acheulean period, some with a lustrous sheen, now held at the Museum of Lebanese Prehistory. Henri Fleisch also found an Emireh point amongst material from the site, which has now disappeared beneath buildings.

Beirut{{nbsp}}V (Nahr Beirut, Beirut River) was discovered by Dillenseger and said to be in an orchard of mulberry trees on the left bank of the river, near the river mouth, and to be close to the railway station and bridge to Tripoli. Levallois flints and bones and similar surface material were found amongst brecciated deposits.Karge, P., Rephaim : Die Vorgeschichtliche Kultur Palästinas und Phöniziens, Paderborn (First edition), 1917–1918 The area has now been built on.Zumoffen, Godefroy., L'âge de la Pierre en Phénicie, L'Anthropologie, Volume 8, page 272, 1898.

Beirut{{nbsp}}VI (Patriarchate) was a site discovered while building on the property of the Lebanese Evangelical School for Girls in the Patriarchate area of Beirut. It was notable for the discovery of a finely styled Canaanean blade javelin suggested to date to the early or middle Neolithic periods of Byblos and which is held in the school library.

Beirut{{nbsp}}VII, the Rivoli Cinema and Byblos Cinema sites near the Bourj in the Rue el Arz area, are two sites discovered by Lorraine Copeland, Peter Wescombe, and Marina Hayek in 1964 and examined by Diana Kirkbride and Roger Saidah. One site was behind the parking lot of the Byblos Cinema and showed collapsed walls, pits, floors, charcoal, pottery and flints. The other, overlooking a cliff west of the Rivoli Cinema, was composed of three layers resting on limestone bedrock. Fragments of blades and broad flakes were recovered from the first layer of black soil, above which some Bronze Age pottery was recovered in a layer of grey soil. Pieces of Roman pottery and mosaics were found in the upper layer. Middle Bronze Age tombs were found in this area, and the ancient tell of Beirut is thought to be in the Bourj area.Lauffray, J., Forums et monuments de Béryte, BULLETIN DU MUSEE DE BEYROUTH. Tome VII, 1944–1945, Beyrouth, in-4° br., 124 pages dont 4 de texte arabe, 29 planches hors-texte.

{{main|Phoenician port of Beirut}}

The Phoenician port of Beirut was located between Rue Foch and Rue Allenby on the north coast. The port or harbour was excavated and reported on several years ago and now lies buried under the city.{{cite book |author=Nina Jidejian |title=Beirut through the ages |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t29tAAAAMAAJ |year=1973 |publisher=Dar el-Machreq distribution: Librairie orientale}} Another suggested port or dry dock was claimed to have been discovered around {{convert|1|km|abbr=off}} to the west in 2011 by a team of Lebanese archaeologists from the Directorate General of Antiquities of Lebanese University. Controversy arose on 26 June 2012 when authorization was given by Lebanese Minister of Culture Gaby Layoun for a private company called Venus Towers Real Estate Development Company to destroy the ruins (archaeological site BEY194) in the $500 million construction project of three skyscrapers and a garden behind Hotel Monroe in downtown Beirut. Two later reports by an international committee of archaeologists appointed by Layoun, including Hanz Curver, and an expert report by Ralph Pederson, a member of the institute of Nautical Archaeology and now teaching in Marburg, Germany, dismissed the claims that the trenches were a port, on various criteria. The exact function of site BEY194 may never be known, and the issue raised heated emotions and led to increased coverage on the subject of Lebanese heritage in the press.{{cite journal |url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/2012/Jun-25/178036-phoenician-port-in-beirut-faces-mega-project.ashx#axzz1zwmIpaYS |title=Phoenician Port in Beirut faces Mega Project |journal=The Daily Star |access-date=25 August 2016 |archive-date=29 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929184610/http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/2012/Jun-25/178036-phoenician-port-in-beirut-faces-mega-project.ashx#axzz1zwmIpaYS }}Ralph K. Pederson, Archaeological Assessment Report on the Venus Towers Site (BEY 194), Beirut – For the Venus Towers Real Estate Development Company, Philipps-Universität Marburg, 30 May – 3 June 2012.{{cite news |url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/2012/Jun-29/178652-archaeological-report-razed-ruins-not-phoenician-port.ashx#axzz1zwmIpaYS |title=Justin Salhani, Archaeological report: Razed ruins not Phoenician port |work=The Daily Star |location=Lebanon |date=29 June 2012 |access-date=8 July 2012 |archive-date=23 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123154233/http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/2012/Jun-29/178652-archaeological-report-razed-ruins-not-phoenician-port.ashx#axzz1zwmIpaYS }}

In 140{{nbsp}}BC, the Phoenician city was destroyed by Diodotus Tryphon during his conflict with Antiochus VII Sidetes for the throne of the Hellenistic Seleucid monarchy. Laodicea in Phoenicia was built upon the same site on a more conventional Hellenistic plan. Present-day Beirut overlies this ancient one, and little archaeology was carried out until after the civil war in 1991. The salvage excavations after 1993 have yielded new insights into the layout and history of this period of Beirut's history. Public architecture included several areas and buildings.{{cite journal |url=https://www.academia.edu/238267 |title=The BCD Archaeology Project, 2000–2006 |last1=Curvers |last2=Stuart |date=2007 |journal=Bulletin d'Archéologie et d'Architecture Libanaises |volume=9 |pages=189–221 |access-date=6 February 2014 |archive-date=13 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211013165752/https://www.academia.edu/238267 |url-status=live }}

Mid-1st-century coins from Berytus bear the head of Tyche, goddess of fortune;{{citation |title=The Hellenistic Settlements in Syria, the Red Sea Basin, and North Africa |first=Getzel |last=Cohen |publisher=University of California Press |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-520-93102-2 |page=205 |quote=Berytos, being part of Phoenicia, was under Ptolemaic control until 200{{nbsp}}BC. After the battle of Panion, Phoenicia and southern Syria passed to the Seleucids. In the second century BC, Laodikeia issued both autonomous as well as quasi-autonomous coins. The autonomous bronze coins had a Tyche on the obverse. The reverse often had Poseidon or Astarte standing on the prow of a ship, the letters BH or ΛΑ and the monogram Φ, that is, the initials of Berytos/Laodikeia and Phoenicia, and, on a few coins, the Phoenician legend LL'DK' 'S BKN 'N or LL'DK' 'M BKN 'N, which has been read as "Of Laodikcia which is in Canaan" or "Of Laodikcia Mother in Canaan. The quasi-municipal coins{{mdash}}issued under Antiochos IV Epiphanes (175–164 BC) and continuing with Alexander I Balas (150–145 BC), Demetrios II Nikator (146–138 BC), and Alexander II Zabinas (128–123 BC){{mdash}}contained the king's head on the obverse, and on the reverse the name of the king in Greek, the city name in Phoenician (LL'DK' 'S BKN 'N or LL'DK' 'M BKN 'N), the Greek letters ΛΑ, and the monogram Φ. After {{c.|123}}{{nbsp}}BC the Phoenician "Of Laodikcia which is in Canaan" / "Of Laodikcia Mother in Canaan is no longer attested. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RqdPcxuNthcC&pg=PA205}} on the reverse, the city's symbol appears: a dolphin entwines an anchor. This symbol was later taken up by the early printer Aldus Manutius in 15th century Venice. After a state of civil war and decline the Seleucid Empire faced, King Tigranes the Great of the Kingdom of Armenia conquered Beirut and placed it under effective Armenian control. However, after the Battle of Tigranocerta, Armenia forever lost their holdings in Syria and Beirut was conquered by Roman general Pompey.

File:Beirut - Lebanon - Paris of the East! - November 2008 - Downtown Beirut is re-constructed mostly thanks to Rafik Hariri - The Paris of the East is back!.jpg of Berytus]]

{{main|Berytus}}

Laodicea was conquered by Pompey in 64 BC and the name Berytus was restored to it. The city was assimilated into the Roman Empire, soldiers were sent there, and large building projects were undertaken.[http://www.downtownbeirut.com/AboutBeirut.html About Beirut and Downtown Beirut] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090423075733/http://www.downtownbeirut.com/AboutBeirut.html |date=23 April 2009 }}, DownTownBeirut.com. Retrieved 17 November 2007.{{cite web |title=Beirut |work=Lonely Planet |url=http://www.lonelyplanet.com/lebanon/beirut |access-date=25 August 2016 |archive-date=24 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090524052809/http://www.lonelyplanet.com/lebanon/beirut |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://ukar.ff.cuni.cz/EN/proj-beirut.html |title=Czech excavations in Beirut, Martyrs' Square |work=Institute for Classical Archaeology |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130723183833/http://ukar.ff.cuni.cz/EN/proj-beirut.html |archive-date=23 July 2013}} From the 1st century BC, the Bekaa Valley served as a source of grain for the Roman provinces of the Levant and even for Rome itself. Under Claudius, Berytus expanded to reach the Bekaa Valley and include Heliopolis (Baalbek). The city was settled by Roman colonists who promoted agriculture in the region.

As a result of this settlement, the city quickly became Romanized, and the city became the only mainly Latin-speaking area in the Syria-Phoenicia province.Morgan, James F. The Prodigal Empire: The Fall of the Western Roman Empire, page 87 In 14{{nbsp}}BC, during the reign of Herod the Great, Berytus became a colony, one of four in the Syria-Phoenicia region and the only one with full Italian rights ({{lang|la|ius Italicum}}) exempting its citizens from imperial taxation. Beirut was considered the most Roman city in the eastern provinces of the Roman Empire. Furthermore, the veterans of two Roman legions were established in the city of Berytus by emperor Augustus: the 5th Macedonian and the 3rd Gallic Legions.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zMJqGTSUmH8C&pg=PA45 |title=Roman Berytus: a colony of legionaries |isbn=978-0-203-49907-8 |last1=Hall |first1=Linda Jones |date=6 February 2004 |publisher=Taylor & Francis}}

Berytus's law school was widely known;[https://archive.today/20120524192722/http://student.britannica.com/comptons/article-230135 Beirut], Britannica.com two of Rome's most famous jurists, Papinian and Ulpian, were natives of Phoenicia and taught there under the Severan emperors. Ecclesiastical historian Sozomen studied at the law school in Beirut between 400-402.{{cite book |last1=Hollerich |first1=Michael |title=Making Christian History: Eusebius of Caesarea and His Readers |date=June 22, 2021 |publisher=Univ of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-29536-0|pages=67,332 |edition=1st}} When Justinian assembled his Pandects in the 6th century, a large part of the corpus of laws was derived from these two jurists, and in AD{{nbsp}}533 Justinian recognised the school as one of the three official law schools of the empire.

In 551, a major earthquake struck Berytus,{{cite book |url=https://www.fulltextarchive.com/page/History-of-Phoenicia7/#p2 |title=History of Phoenicia |access-date=17 November 2007 |archive-date=7 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140307085928/http://www.fulltextarchive.com/page/History-of-Phoenicia7/#p2 |url-status=live }} causing widespread damage. The earthquake reduced cities along the coast to ruins and killed many, 30,000 in Berytus alone by some measurements.{{cite journal |last1=Sbeinati |first1=M.R. |author2=Darawcheh R. |author3=Mouty M |year=2005 |title=The historical earthquakes of Syria: an analysis of large and moderate earthquakes from 1365 B.C. to 1900 A.D. |journal=Annals of Geophysics |volume=48 |issue=3 |pages=347–435 |doi=10.4401/ag-3206 |doi-access=free}} As a result, the students of the law school were transferred to Sidon.{{cite web |url=http://www.ikamalebanon.com/national_heritage/south_nh/sth_cities_nh/saida.htm |title=Saida (Sidon) |publisher=Ikamalebanon.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090628084129/http://www.ikamalebanon.com/national_heritage/south_nh/sth_cities_nh/saida.htm |archive-date=28 June 2009 |access-date=5 May 2009}}

Salvage excavations since 1993 have yielded new insights in the layout and history of Roman Berytus. Public architecture included several bath complexes, Colonnaded Streets, a circus and theatre; residential areas were excavated in the Garden of Forgiveness, Martyrs' Square and the Beirut Souks.{{cite journal |last=Perring |first=Dominic |date=2003 |url=https://www.academia.edu/489532 |title=The Insula of the House of the Fountains in Beirut: an Outline History |journal=Antiquaries Journal |volume=83 |pages=195–230 |doi=10.1017/S0003581500077696 |s2cid=162079588}}{{Dead link|date=December 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

File:Beyrouth-histoire1.jpg in the background – 19th century]]

Beirut was conquered by the Muslims in 635.{{cite encyclopedia |url=https://www.britannica.com/ebc/article-9356914 |title=Beirut |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080223204339/https://www.britannica.com/ebc/article-9356914 |archive-date=23 February 2008 |encyclopedia=Britannica.com}} As a trading center of the eastern Mediterranean, Beirut was as important as Acre (in modern-day Israel) during the Middle Ages. From 1110 to 1291, the town and Lordship of Beirut was part of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. The city was taken by Saladin in 1187 and recaptured in 1197 by Henry I of Brabant as part of the German Crusade of 1197. John of Ibelin, known as the Old Lord of Beirut, was granted the lordship of the city in 1204. He rebuilt the city after its destruction by the Ayyubids and also built the House of Ibelin palace in Beirut.

File:Beirut Panorama (cropped).jpg and waterfront, 1868]]

In 1291 Beirut was captured and the Crusaders expelled by the Mamluk army of Sultan al-Ashraf Khalil.

File:SL 1914 D052 among the pine groves of the cape of beirut.jpg Forest of Beirut, 1914]]

Under the Ottoman sultan Selim I (1512–1520), the Ottomans conquered Syria including present-day Lebanon. Beirut was controlled by local Druze emirs throughout the Ottoman period.{{cite web |url=http://www.druzeheritage.org/dhf/Druze_History.asp |title=Druze History |work=DHF Druze Heritage Foundation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303201657/http://www.druzeheritage.org/dhf/Druze_History.asp |archive-date=3 March 2016}} One of them, Fakhr-al-Din II, fortified it early in the 17th century, but the Ottomans reclaimed it in 1763. With the help of Damascus, Beirut successfully broke Acre's monopoly on Syrian maritime trade and for a few years supplanted it as the main trading center in the region. During the succeeding epoch of rebellion against Ottoman hegemony in Acre under Jezzar Pasha and Abdullah Pasha, Beirut declined to a small town with a population of about 10,000 and was an object of contention between the Ottomans, the local Druze, and the Mamluks. After Ibrahim Pasha of Egypt captured Acre in 1832,Corpus Inscriptionum Arabicarum Palaestinae, by Moshe Sharon Beirut began its revival.

After the Albanian fighter Tafil Buzi was interned and then pardoned by the Ottoman administration for his constant uprisings, he raised 3,000 Albanian mercenaries to fight in Lebanon; some of them became notorious shortly afterwards for having been responsible for the widespread disorders in Beirut.{{cite book |last1=Jacques |first1=Edwin E. |title=The Albanians: An Ethnic History from Prehistoric Times to the Present |date=30 January 2009 |publisher=McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers |isbn=978-0-7864-4238-6 |page=237 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JNYmAQAAMAAJ&q=tafil%20buzi |language=en |access-date=8 July 2023 |archive-date=4 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004010849/https://books.google.com/books?id=JNYmAQAAMAAJ&q=tafil%20buzi |url-status=live }}

File:Grand serail solidere 6.jpg, circa 1930]]

By the second half of the nineteenth century, Beirut was developing close commercial and political ties with European imperial powers, particularly France. European interests in Lebanese silk and other export products transformed the city into a major port and commercial center.{{Cite journal |last=Küskü |first=Fırat |date=2019 |title=MÜSLÜMAN SEYYAHLARIN GÖZÜYLE BEYRUT ŞEHRİ (1890-1914) |url=https://www.academia.edu/39958753 |journal=Sinop Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi |volume=3 |pages=143–168 |doi=10.30561/sinopusd.529737 |s2cid=198739031 |issn=2547-989X |doi-access=free |access-date=11 October 2022 |archive-date=21 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021190413/https://www.academia.edu/39958753 |url-status=live }} This boom in cross-regional trade allowed certain groups, such as the Sursock family, to establish trade and manufacturing empires that further strengthened Beirut's position as a key partner in the interests of imperial dynasties. Meanwhile, Ottoman power in the region continued to decline. Sectarian and religious conflicts, power vacuums, and changes in the political dynamics of the region culminated in the 1860 Lebanon conflict. Beirut became a destination for Maronite Christian refugees fleeing from the worst areas of the fighting on Mount Lebanon and in Damascus.Fawaz, Leila. "The City and the Mountain", International Journal of Middle East Studies 16 no. 4 (Nov. 1984), 493. This in turn altered the religious composition of Beirut itself, sowing the seeds of future sectarian and religious troubles there and in greater Lebanon. However, Beirut was able to prosper in the meantime. This was again a product of European intervention, and also a general realization amongst the city's residents that commerce, trade, and prosperity depended on domestic stability.Fawaz, Leila. "The City and the Mountain", International Journal of Middle East Studies 16 no. 4 (Nov. 1984), 490. After petitions by the local bourgeois, the governor of Syria Vilayet Mehmed Rashid Pasha authorized the establishment of the Beirut Municipal Council,{{cite book |last1=Hill |first1=Peter |title=Utopia and Civilization in the Arab Nahda |date=2020 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge |isbn=978-1-108-49166-2 |page=43}} the first municipality established in the Arab provinces of the Empire.{{cite book |last1=Blecher |first1=Robert |title=The Medicalization of Sovereignty: Medicine, Public Health, and Political Authority in Syria, 1861-1936 |date=2002 |publisher=Stanford University |page=86 |isbn=978-0-493-62826-4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wmpEAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Beirut+Municipal+Council%22+1868 |access-date=30 July 2022 |archive-date=16 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240316002903/https://books.google.com/books?id=wmpEAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Beirut+Municipal+Council%22+1868 |url-status=live }} The council was elected by an assembly of city notables and played an instrumental role governing the city through the following decades.

In 1888, Beirut was made capital of a vilayet (governorate) in Syria,[http://www.macalester.edu/courses/geog61/jmhamilton/modern.html Modern Beirut] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915181848/https://www.macalester.edu/courses/geog61/jmhamilton/modern.html |date=15 September 2018 }}, Macalester College including the sanjaks (prefectures) Latakia, Tripoli, Beirut, Acre and Bekaa.{{cite web |url=http://www.lebanonlinks.com/country/beirut_history_beyrouth.html |title=History of Beirut |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106234850/http://www.lebanonlinks.com/country/beirut_history_beyrouth.html |archive-date=6 January 2009 |work=Lebanon Links}} By this time, Beirut had grown into a cosmopolitan city and had close links with Europe and the United States. It also became a centre of missionary activity that spawned educational institutions such as the American University of Beirut. Provided with water from a British company and gas from a French one, silk exports to Europe came to dominate the local economy. After French engineers established a modern harbour in 1894 and a rail link across Lebanon to Damascus and Aleppo in 1907, much of the trade was carried by French ships to Marseille. French influence in the area soon exceeded that of any other European power. Though French infrastructure investments in the region were supportive, the local merchant elites were able to independently maintain economic power even after the end of the First World War.{{cite book |last1=Schayegh |first1=Cyrus |title=The Middle East and the Making of the Modern World |date=2017 |publisher=Harvard University Press |page=165}} In contrast, although Beirut was not the only city to receive French attention in this time, it was able to leverage its critical position to its advantage over others (e.g. Damascus). The 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica reported a population consisting of 36,000 Muslims, 77,000 Christians, 2,500 Jews, 400 Druze and 4,100 foreigners.{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Beirut|volume=3|page=658|first1=Charles William|last1=Wilson|first2=David George|last2=Hogarth}} At the start of the 20th century, Salim Ali Salam was one of the most prominent figures in Beirut, holding numerous public positions including deputy from Beirut to the Ottoman parliament and President of the Municipality of Beirut. Given his modern way of life, the emergence of Salim Ali Salam as a public figure constituted a transformation in terms of the social development of the city.

{{Wide image|بيروت_القرن_١٩_أسود_أبيض.jpg|800px|An aerial panoramic view of Beirut in the last third of the 19th century}}In his 2003 book entitled Beirut and its Seven Families, Yussef Bin Ahmad Bin Ali Al Husseini says:

{{blockquote|The seven families of Beirut are the families who bonded among each other and made the famous historical agreement with the governor of the Syrian Coast in 1351 to protect and defend the city of Beirut and its shores, and chase the invaders and stop their progress towards it.}}

File:Beirut Debbas Square 1967.jpg

After World War I and the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, Beirut, along with the rest of Lebanon, was placed under the French Mandate. Lebanon achieved independence in 1943, and Beirut became the capital city. The city remained a regional intellectual capital, becoming a major tourist destination and a banking haven,{{cite web |url=http://taxjustice.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/lebanon-emerging-black-hole-of-middle.html |title=Tax Justice Network: Lebanon: a re-emerging Middle Eastern secrecy jurisdiction |access-date=25 August 2016 |archive-date=12 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012115143/http://taxjustice.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/lebanon-emerging-black-hole-of-middle.html |url-status=live }}{{cite book |title=Crisis of Representation: Experimental Documentary in Postwar Lebanon |date=2011 |publisher=BiblioBazaar |isbn=978-1-243-52201-6 |page=70}} especially for the Persian Gulf oil boom.

Beirut International Airport was opened on 23 April 1954.

This era of relative prosperity ended in 1975 when the Lebanese Civil War broke out throughout the country,[An Alternate Alternative History] {{dead link|date=March 2017|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}, Foreign Policy{{cite web |url=http://travel.independent.co.uk/middle_east/article84731.ece |title=Dancing in the street |work=The Independent |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070124231823/http://travel.independent.co.uk/middle_east/article84731.ece |archive-date=24 January 2007}} During most of the war, Beirut was divided between the Muslim west part and the Christian east.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}} The downtown area, previously the home of much of the city's commercial and cultural activity, became a no man's land known as the Green Line. Many inhabitants fled to other countries. About 60,000 people died in the first two years of the war (1975–1976), and much of the city was devastated. A particularly destructive period was the 1978 Syrian siege of Achrafiyeh, the main Christian district of Beirut. Syrian troops relentlessly shelled the eastern quarter of the city,{{cite web |url=https://histoiredesforceslibanaises.wordpress.com/2012/07/11/the-100-days-war-the-battle-of-ashrafieh/ |title=The 100 Days War, the Battle of Ashrafieh |last=josephhokayem |date=11 July 2012 |access-date=25 August 2016 |archive-date=30 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830062941/https://histoiredesforceslibanaises.wordpress.com/2012/07/11/the-100-days-war-the-battle-of-ashrafieh/ |url-status=live }} but Christian militias defeated multiple attempts by Syria's elite forces to capture the strategic area in a three-month campaign later known as the Hundred Days' War.

Image:Green Line, Beirut 1982.jpg, Beirut, 1982]]

Another destructive chapter was the 1982 Lebanon War, during which most of West Beirut was under siege by Israeli troops. In 1983, French and US barracks were bombed, killing 241 American servicemen, 58 French servicemen, six civilians and the two suicide bombers.{{cite web |url=http://www.cdi.org/terrorism/chronology-pr.cfm |title=Terrorism – Terrorist Attacks Chronology |work=CDI Terrorism Project |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402220339/http://www.cdi.org/terrorism/chronology-pr.cfm |archive-date=2 April 2012}}{{cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/target/etc/cron.html |title=Frontline: Target America: Terrorist Attacks on Americans, 1979–1988 |work=PBS.org |access-date=24 August 2017 |archive-date=6 October 2001 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011006084049/https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/target/etc/cron.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.lebaneseforces.com/bombingofmarinebarracks.asp |title=Historical Fact: Bombing of marine barracks |date=23 October 1983 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303193030/http://www.lebaneseforces.com/bombingofmarinebarracks.asp |archive-date=3 March 2016 |website=lebaneseforces.com}}

Between 1989 and 1990 parts on East Beirut were destroyed in fighting between Lebanese army units loyal to General Aoun and Samir Geagea's Maronite Christian Lebanese Forces with the Syrian Armed Forces-backed Elias Hrawi and Salim Al-Huss Lebanese army forces.

Since the end of the war in 1990, the people of Lebanon have been rebuilding Beirut, whose urban agglomeration was mainly constituted during war time through an anarchic urban development{{Cite journal |last=Sfeir |first=Nagi |title=Realurbanism: or the Urban Realpolitik. Towards a "Spatialisation" of the Realist Paradigm from International Relations (Le Realurbanisme ou la Realpolitik de l'urbain. Le cas libanais) |url=http://geografie.ubbcluj.ro/ccau/jssp/arhiva_1_2013/01JSSP012013.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://geografie.ubbcluj.ro/ccau/jssp/arhiva_1_2013/01JSSP012013.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |journal=Journal of Settlements and Spatial Planning |year=2013 |volume=4 |issue=1 |pages=1–10}} stretching along the littoral corridor and its nearby heights. By the start of the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict the city had somewhat regained its status as a tourist, cultural and intellectual centre in the Middle East and as a center for commerce, fashion, and media. The reconstruction of downtown Beirut has been largely driven by Solidere, a development company established in 1994 by Prime Minister Rafic Hariri. The city has hosted both the Asian Club Basketball Championship and the Asian Football Cup, and has hosted the Miss Europe pageant nine times: 1960–1964, 1999, 2001–2002, and 2016.

Rafic Hariri was assassinated in 2005 near the Saint George Hotel in Beirut.[http://www.lgic.org/en/history_lebanon2005.php History of Lebanon (The Cedar Revolution)] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071113065441/http://www.lgic.org/en/history_lebanon2005.php |date=13 November 2007 }}, LGIC. Retrieved 19 November 2007.{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071223232110/http://watch.windsofchange.net/revolution_03.htm |url=http://watch.windsofchange.net/revolution_03.htm |archive-date=23 December 2007 |title=Watch – The Cedar Revolution |work=The Winds of Change |access-date=19 November 2007}} A month later about one million people gathered for an opposition rally in Beirut.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4346613.stm |title='Record' protest held in Beirut |date=14 March 2005 |work=BBC News |access-date=25 August 2016 |archive-date=27 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220327031923/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4346613.stm |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/22/AR2007112200832.html?nav=rss_email/components |title=From Hopeful To Helpless At a Protest In Lebanon |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=22 November 2007 |access-date=24 August 2017 |archive-date=15 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915181852/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/22/AR2007112200832.html?nav=rss_email/components |url-status=live }} The Cedar Revolution was the largest rally in Lebanon's history at that time.{{cite news |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/03/14/lebanon.syria/index.html |title=Hariri sister calls for justice |work=CNN International |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206051248/http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/03/14/lebanon.syria/index.html |archive-date=6 December 2008}} The last Syrian troops withdrew from Beirut on 26 April 2005,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/april/26/newsid_4918000/4918584.stm |title=2005: Syrian troops leave Lebanon |date=26 April 2005 |work=BBC News |access-date=25 August 2016 |archive-date=10 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010225457/http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/april/26/newsid_4918000/4918584.stm |url-status=live }} and the two countries established diplomatic relations on 15 October 2008.{{cite web |url=http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-10-15-voa44.cfm |title=Syria, Lebanon Formally Launch Diplomatic Relations |publisher=Voice of America |access-date=5 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202205743/http://voanews.com/english/2008-10-15-voa44.cfm |archive-date=2 December 2008}}

File:Streets of downtown Beirut (3).jpg

During the 2006 Lebanon War, Israeli bombardment caused damage in many parts of Beirut, especially the predominantly Shiite southern suburbs of Beirut. On 12 July 2006, the "Operation Truthful Promise" carried out by Hezbollah ended with 8 Israeli deaths and 6 injuries. In response, the IDF targeted Hezbollah's main media outlets. There were then artillery raids against targets in southern Lebanon, and the Israeli cabinet held Beirut responsible for the attacks. Then on 13 July 2006 Israel began implementing a naval and air blockade over Lebanon; during this blockade Israel bombed the runways at Beirut International Airport and the major Beirut-Damascus highway in Eastern Lebanon.{{cite web |url=http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/lebanon2.html |title=Background & Overview: Second Lebanon War {{!}} Jewish Virtual Library |website=www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org |access-date=14 November 2016 |archive-date=18 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161218221252/http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/lebanon2.html |url-status=live }}

In May 2008, after the government decided to disband Hezbollah's communications network (a decision it later rescinded), violent clashes broke out briefly between government allies and opposition forces, before control of the city was handed over to the Lebanese Army.{{cite web |url=http://www.tadamon.ca/post/category/independent-media/page/2 |title=Tadamon! " Independent Media |access-date=25 August 2016 |archive-date=12 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012093427/http://www.tadamon.ca/post/category/independent-media/page/2 }} After this a national dialogue conference was held in Doha at the invitation of the Prince of Qatar. The conference agreed to appoint a new president of Lebanon and to establish a new national government involving all the political adversaries. As a result of the Doha Agreement, the opposition's barricades were dismantled and so were the opposition's protest camps in Martyrs' Square.{{cite web |url=http://www.joshualandis.com/blog/mabrouk-success-in-doha/?print=true |title=A Political Breakthrough in Doha |date=21 May 2008 |access-date=25 August 2016 |archive-date=23 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150523175112/http://www.joshualandis.com/blog/mabrouk-success-in-doha/?print=true }} On 19 October 2012, a car bomb killed eight people in the Beirut's neighborhood of Achrafiyeh, including Brigadier General Wissam al-Hassan, chief of the Intelligence Bureau of the Internal Security Forces. In addition, 78 others were wounded in the bombing.{{cite web |url=http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/57713-wissam-al-hasan-assassinated-in-ashrafiyeh-bomb-blast |title=Wissam al-Hasan Assassinated in Ashrafiyeh Bomb Blast |publisher=Naharnet |access-date=20 October 2012 |archive-date=17 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117022149/http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/57713-wissam-al-hasan-assassinated-in-ashrafiyeh-bomb-blast |url-status=live }} It was the largest attack in the capital since 2008.{{cite web |url=http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/57701-8-dead-78-hurt-as-powerful-car-bomb-hits-near-ashrafiyeh-s-sassine-square |title=8 Dead, 78 Hurt as Powerful Car Bomb Hits near Ashrafiyeh's Sassine Square |publisher=Naharnet |access-date=20 October 2012 |archive-date=5 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181005215706/http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/57701-8-dead-78-hurt-as-powerful-car-bomb-hits-near-ashrafiyeh-s-sassine-square |url-status=live }} On 27 December 2013, a car bomb exploded in the Central District killing at least five people, including the former Lebanese ambassador to the U.S. Mohamad Chatah, and wounding 71 others.{{cite news |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2013/12/27/world/meast/lebanon-explosion/ |work=CNN |title=Lebanon's Mohamad Chatah, a Hezbollah foe, killed in blast |date=28 December 2013 |access-date=6 February 2014 |archive-date=28 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131228063558/http://edition.cnn.com/2013/12/27/world/meast/lebanon-explosion/ |url-status=live }}

In the 12 November 2015 Beirut bombings, two suicide bombers detonated explosives outside a mosque and inside a bakery, killing 43 people and injuring 200. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant immediately claimed responsibility for the attacks.{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/isis-claims-deadly-dual-beirut-bombings/story?id=35156802 |title=ISIS Claims Deadly Dual Beirut Bombings |date=12 November 2015 |work=ABC News |access-date=25 August 2016 |archive-date=11 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220711074418/https://abcnews.go.com/International/isis-claims-deadly-dual-beirut-bombings/story?id=35156802 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.firstpost.com/world/41-killed-200-wounded-in-beirut-twin-blasts-is-claims-responsibility-2504508.html |title=43 killed, 239 wounded in Beirut twin blasts; Islamic State claims responsibility |work=First Post |date=13 November 2015 |access-date=13 November 2015 |archive-date=12 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012074251/http://www.firstpost.com/world/41-killed-200-wounded-in-beirut-twin-blasts-is-claims-responsibility-2504508.html |url-status=live }}

On 4 August 2020, a massive explosion in the Port of Beirut resulted in the death of at least 203 people (with an additional three missing){{Cite news |date=2020-08-10 |title=Lebanon's government 'to resign over blast' |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-53720383 |access-date=2020-08-10 |archive-date=10 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810112441/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-53720383 |url-status=live }} and the wounding of more than 6,500. Foreigners from at least 22 countries were among the casualties. Furthermore, at least 108 Bangladeshis were injured in the blasts, making them the most affected foreign community. The cause of the blast is believed to be from government-confiscated and stored ammonium nitrate.{{cite news |last=Urbina |first=Ian |date=August 11, 2020 |title="Behind the Beirut blast: the perils of abandoned ships and cargo" |work=San Francisco Chronicle |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/openforum/article/Behind-the-Beirut-blast-the-perils-of-abandoned-15474020.php |access-date=23 October 2020 |archive-date=2 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702230741/https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/openforum/article/Behind-the-Beirut-blast-the-perils-of-abandoned-15474020.php |url-status=live }} As many as 300,000 people have been left homeless by the explosion.{{Cite web |last=wires |first=Staff and |title=Beirut explosion left 300,000 homeless, caused up to $15 billion in damage |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2020/08/06/aid-lebanon-beirut-explosion-force-corruption-reforms/3307109001/ |access-date=2020-08-10 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US |archive-date=10 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810032110/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2020/08/06/aid-lebanon-beirut-explosion-force-corruption-reforms/3307109001/ |url-status=live }} Protesters in Lebanon called on the government on 8 August 2020 for the end of the alleged negligence that resulted in the 4 August explosion.{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-lebanon-security-blast/lebanese-call-for-an-uprising-after-protests-rock-beirut-idUSKCN2550CI |title=Lebanese call for an uprising after protests rock Beirut |access-date=9 August 2020 |website=Reuters |date=9 August 2020 |archive-date=29 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029150442/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-lebanon-security-blast/lebanese-call-for-an-uprising-after-protests-rock-beirut-idUSKCN2550CI |url-status=live }} On 10 August 2020, as a result of the protests, Prime Minister Hassan Diab announced his resignation.{{cite news |date=10 August 2020 |title=Lebanon's prime minister announces he will resign amid large protests following last week's Beirut blast |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2020/08/10/lebanons-prime-minister-announces-he-will-resign-amid-large-protests-following-last-weeks-beirut-blast/ |access-date=10 August 2020}} Weeks later, a huge fire erupted in an oil and tyre warehouse in the port's duty-free zone, on 10 September 2020.{{cite web |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/09/10/middleeast/beirut-port-fire-intl/index.html |title=Beirut port ablaze, weeks after massive blast |access-date=10 September 2020 |website=CNN |date=10 September 2020 |archive-date=11 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200911150355/https://edition.cnn.com/2020/09/10/middleeast/beirut-port-fire-intl/index.html |url-status=live }}

File:Pigeon's Rock Beirut Lebanon.jpg)]]

File:ISS013-E-57433, view of Beirut.jpg

Beirut sits on a peninsula extending westward into the Mediterranean Sea.{{Cite web |url=http://www.macalester.edu/geography/courses/geog261/efarhat/%20beirut/geography.htm |title=Beirut – The Pearl of the Middle East}}{{Dead link|date=October 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} It is flanked by the Lebanon Mountains and has taken on a triangular shape, largely influenced by its situation between and atop two hills: Al-Ashrafieh and Al-Musaytibah. The Beirut Governorate occupies {{convert|18|km2|sqmi}}, and the city's metropolitan area {{convert|67|km2|sqmi}}. The coast is rather diverse, with rocky beaches, sandy shores and cliffs situated beside one another.

Beirut has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csa, bordering on As, Trewartha: Csal) characterized by mild days and nights, as its coastal location allows temperatures to be moderated by the sea. Autumn and spring are warm, but short. Winter is mild and rainy; frost has never been recorded. Summer is prolonged, hot and humid. The prevailing wind during the afternoon and evening is from the west (onshore, blowing in from the Mediterranean); at night it reverses to offshore, blowing from the land out to sea.

The average annual rainfall is {{convert|825|mm|in}}, with the large majority of it falling from October to April. Much of the autumn and spring rain falls in heavy downpours on a limited number of days, but in winter it is spread more evenly over many days. Summer receives very little rainfall, if any. Snow is rare, except in the mountainous eastern suburbs, where snowfall occurs due to the region's high altitudes. Hail (which can often be heavy) occurs a few times per year, mostly during winter.

{{Weather box

|width = auto

|location = Beirut International Airport

|metric first = Yes

|single line = Yes

|Jan record high C = 27.9

|Feb record high C = 30.5

|Mar record high C = 36.6

|Apr record high C = 39.3

|May record high C = 39.0

|Jun record high C = 40.0

|Jul record high C = 40.4

|Aug record high C = 39.5

|Sep record high C = 37.5

|Oct record high C = 37.0

|Nov record high C = 33.1

|Dec record high C = 30.0

|year record high C = 40.4

|Jan high C = 17.4

|Feb high C = 17.5

|Mar high C = 19.6

|Apr high C = 22.6

|May high C = 25.4

|Jun high C = 27.9

|Jul high C = 30.0

|Aug high C = 30.7

|Sep high C = 29.8

|Oct high C = 27.5

|Nov high C = 23.2

|Dec high C = 19.4

|year high C = 24.3

|Jan mean C = 14.0

|Feb mean C = 14.0

|Mar mean C = 16.0

|Apr mean C = 18.7

|May mean C = 21.7

|Jun mean C = 24.9

|Jul mean C = 27.1

|Aug mean C = 27.8

|Sep mean C = 26.8

|Oct mean C = 24.1

|Nov mean C = 19.5

|Dec mean C = 15.8

|year mean C = 20.9

|Jan low C = 11.2

|Feb low C = 11.0

|Mar low C = 12.6

|Apr low C = 15.2

|May low C = 18.2

|Jun low C = 21.6

|Jul low C = 24.0

|Aug low C = 24.8

|Sep low C = 23.7

|Oct low C = 21.0

|Nov low C = 16.3

|Dec low C = 12.9

|year low C = 17.7

|Jan record low C = 0.8

|Feb record low C = 3.0

|Mar record low C = 0.2

|Apr record low C = 7.6

|May record low C = 10.0

|Jun record low C = 15.0

|Jul record low C = 18.0

|Aug record low C = 19.0

|Sep record low C = 17.0

|Oct record low C = 11.1

|Nov record low C = 7.0

|Dec record low C = 4.6

|year record low C = 0.2

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 154

|Feb precipitation mm = 127

|Mar precipitation mm = 84

|Apr precipitation mm = 31

|May precipitation mm = 11

|Jun precipitation mm = 1

|Jul precipitation mm = 0.3

|Aug precipitation mm = 0

|Sep precipitation mm = 5

|Oct precipitation mm = 60

|Nov precipitation mm = 115

|Dec precipitation mm = 141

|year precipitation mm = 730

|Jan rain days = 12

|Feb rain days = 10

|Mar rain days = 8

|Apr rain days = 5

|May rain days = 2

|Jun rain days = 2

|Jul rain days = 0.04

|Aug rain days = 0.1

|Sep rain days = 1

|Oct rain days = 4

|Nov rain days = 7

|Dec rain days = 11

|year rain days = 62

|Jan humidity = 64

|Feb humidity = 64

|Mar humidity = 64

|Apr humidity = 66

|May humidity = 70

|Jun humidity = 71

|Jul humidity = 72

|Aug humidity = 71

|Sep humidity = 65

|Oct humidity = 62

|Nov humidity = 60

|Dec humidity = 63

|year humidity = 66

| Jan dew point C =7

| Feb dew point C =8

| Mar dew point C =9

| Apr dew point C =12

| May dew point C =16

| Jun dew point C =19

| Jul dew point C =22

| Aug dew point C =22

| Sep dew point C =19

| Oct dew point C =16

| Nov dew point C =11

| Dec dew point C =8

|Jan sun = 131

|Feb sun = 143

|Mar sun = 191

|Apr sun = 243

|May sun = 310

|Jun sun = 348

|Jul sun = 360

|Aug sun = 334

|Sep sun = 288

|Oct sun = 245

|Nov sun = 200

|Dec sun = 147

|year sun = 2940

|source 1 = Danish Meteorological Institute (sun 1931–1960){{cite web |url=http://www.dmi.dk/dmi/tr01-17.pdf |title=Libanon – Beyrouth |last1=Cappelen |first1=John |last2=Jensen |first2=Jens |work=Climate Data for Selected Stations (1931–1960) |page=167 |publisher=Danish Meteorological Institute |language=da |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116071752/http://www.dmi.dk/dmi/tr01-17.pdf |archive-date=16 January 2013 |access-date=2 March 2013}}

|source 2=[https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/lebanon/beirut/climate Time and Date] (dewpoints, between 1985-2015){{cite web |url=https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/lebanon/beirut/climate |title=Climate & Weather Averages at Beirut Airport weather station (40100) |publisher=Time and Date |access-date=4 February 2022 |archive-date=4 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220204041541/https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/lebanon/beirut/climate |url-status=live }}

|date=October 2011}}

{{Main|Marine environmental issues in Lebanon}}

Lebanon, especially Beirut and its suburbs, suffered a massive garbage crisis, mainly from July 2015 up to March 2016. The issue began when authorities shut down the main landfill site originally used for Beirut's garbage south-east of the city and failed to provide any alternative solutions for months. As a result, garbage mounted in the streets in Greater Beirut and caused protests to erupt, which sometimes invoked police action. This problem was commonly blamed on the country's political situation. This garbage crisis birthed a movement called "You Stink" which was directed at the country's politicians. In March 2016, the government came up with a so-called temporary solution to establish two new landfills East and South of the city to store the garbage, while several municipalities across the country, in an unprecedented move, began recycling and managing waste more efficiently, building waste-management facilities and relying on themselves rather than the central government. Moreover, Beirut has a lack of green areas with just two main public gardens (sanayeh and horch Beirut). In fact, concrete roofs cover 80% of the capital area.{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/24/middleeast/lebanon-garbage-crisis-river/index.html |title=Lebanon: River of trash chokes Beirut suburb |last1=Hume |first1=Tim |last2=Tawfeeq |first2=Mohammed |work=CNN |access-date=14 November 2016 |archive-date=14 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161114170326/http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/24/middleeast/lebanon-garbage-crisis-river/index.html |url-status=live }}

{{main|List of places in Beirut}}

File:Beirut Districts.png

Beirut is divided into 12 quarters ({{lang|fr|quartiers}}):{{cite web |url=http://www.beirut.gov.lb/www.beirut.gov.lb/MCMSAR/حضارة%2Bبيروت/ |title=Beirut's official website |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080521100928/http://www.beirut.gov.lb/www.beirut.gov.lb/MCMSAR/%D8%AD%D8%B6%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A9%2B%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%AA/ |archive-date=21 May 2008 |access-date=23 April 2008}}

• Achrafieh
• Dar Mreisse
• Bachoura
• Mazraa (with the neighbourhood Badaro)
• Medawar (with the neighbourhood Mar Mikhaël)
• Minet El Hosn
• Moussaitbeh (with Ramlet al-Baida)
• Port
• Ras Beirut
• Rmeil
• Saifi
• Zuqaq al-Blat

These quarters are divided into 59 sectors ({{lang|fr|secteurs}}).{{cite web |url=http://www.beirut.gov.lb/www.beirut.gov.lb/MCMSEN/Maps+of+Beirut/ |title=Beirut's Official Website |publisher=Beirut.gov.lb |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090412231917/http://www.beirut.gov.lb/www.beirut.gov.lb/MCMSEN/Maps%2Bof%2BBeirut/ |archive-date=12 April 2009 |access-date=5 May 2009}}

File:Badaro nightlife.jpeg]]

Badaro is an edgy, bohemian style neighborhood,{{Citation needed|date=October 2018}} within the green district of Beirut ({{lang|fr|secteur du parc}}) which also include the Beirut Hippodrome and the Beirut Pine Forest and the French ambassador's Pine Residence. It is one of Beirut's favorite hip nightlife destination.{{Citation needed|date=October 2018}}

Two of the twelve official Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon are located in the southern suburbs of Beirut: Bourj el-Barajneh and Shatila. There is also one within its municipal boundaries: Mar Elias.{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/unrwa/refugees/lebanon.html |title=Lebanon refugee camp profiles |publisher=UNRWA |date=31 December 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080409202113/http://www.un.org/unrwa/refugees/lebanon.html |archive-date=9 April 2008 |access-date=18 April 2008}}

File:Escalier saint-nicolas beyrouth.jpg]]

File:Ferris wheel and the corniche.jpg and the Mediterranean Sea]]

Southern suburban districts include Chiyah, Ghobeiry (Bir Hassan, Jnah and Ouzai are part of the Ghobeiry municipality), Haret Hreik, Burj al Barajneh, Laylake-Mreijeh, Hay al Sillum and Hadath. Eastern suburbs include Burj Hammoud, Sin el Fil, Dekwane and Mkalles. Hazmiyeh is also considered as an eastern suburb with its close proximity to the capital. Of the 15 unregistered or unofficial refugee camps, Sabra, which lies adjacent to Shatila, is also located in southern Beirut{{cite web |url=http://www.forcedmigration.org/guides/fmo018/fmo018.pdf |title=Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon |publisher=Force Migration |author=Sherifa Shafie |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528012358/http://www.forcedmigration.org/guides/fmo018/fmo018.pdf |archive-date=28 May 2008 |access-date=18 April 2008}} and was the scene of a massacre during the civil war.{{Cite web |date=2019-04-29 |title=Sabra and Chatila {{!}} Sciences Po Violence de masse et Résistance - Réseau de recherche |url=https://www.sciencespo.fr/mass-violence-war-massacre-resistance/fr/document/sabra-and-chatila.html |access-date=2021-10-14 |website=www.sciencespo.fr |language=fr |archive-date=28 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328165019/https://www.sciencespo.fr/mass-violence-war-massacre-resistance/fr/document/sabra-and-chatila.html |url-status=live }}

People in Lebanon often use different names for the same geographic locations, and few people rely on official, government-provided street numbers. Instead, historic and commercial landmarks are more commonly used.{{Cite news |last=Gustafsson |first=Jenny |date=2015-06-02 |title=Mapping, Beirut-style: how to navigate a city without using any street names |url=https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2015/jun/02/mapping-beirut-style-how-to-navigate-a-city-without-using-any-street-names |access-date=2024-02-25 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=25 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240225203815/https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2015/jun/02/mapping-beirut-style-how-to-navigate-a-city-without-using-any-street-names |url-status=live }}

No population census has been taken in Lebanon since 1932,{{cite web |url=http://www.moe.gov.lb/getattachment/The-Ministry/Reports/State-Of-the-Environment-Report-2001/Chap-1-Population.pdf.aspx |title="Lebanon State of the Environment Report", Chapter 1 |date=2001 |publisher=Lebanese Ministry of Environment |page=9 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150624160838/http://www.moe.gov.lb/getattachment/The-Ministry/Reports/State-Of-the-Environment-Report-2001/Chap-1-Population.pdf.aspx |archive-date=24 June 2015 |access-date=8 June 2015}} but estimates of Beirut's population range from as low as 938,940{{cite web |url=http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/dyb/DYB2003/Table08.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/dyb/DYB2003/Table08.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |title=Demographic Yearbook 2003 |date=2003 |publisher=United Nations |page=53 |access-date=17 January 2010}} through 1,303,129{{cite web |url=http://www.moe.gov.lb/getattachment/The-Ministry/Reports/State-Of-the-Environment-Report-2001/Chap-1-Population.pdf.aspx |title="Lebanon State of the Environment Report", Chapter 1 |date=2001 |publisher=Lebanese Ministry of Environment |page=11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150624160838/http://www.moe.gov.lb/getattachment/The-Ministry/Reports/State-Of-the-Environment-Report-2001/Chap-1-Population.pdf.aspx |archive-date=24 June 2015 |access-date=8 June 2015}} to as high as 2,200,000 as part of Greater Beirut.{{cite web |url=http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2014/09/30/questions-and-answers-water-supply-augmentation-project-lebanon |title=Questions & Answers: Water Supply Augmentation Project, Lebanon |work=The World Bank |date=30 September 2014 |access-date=20 March 2016 |archive-date=28 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190528100143/http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2014/09/30/questions-and-answers-water-supply-augmentation-project-lebanon |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Asia-and-Oceania/Lebanon-POPULATION.html |title=Lebanon - Population |publisher=Encyclopedia of the Nations |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100113043355/http://nationsencyclopedia.com/Asia-and-Oceania/Lebanon-POPULATION.html |archive-date=13 January 2010 |access-date=17 January 2010}}

{{See also|Religion in Lebanon|Shia Islam in Lebanon|Sunni Islam in Lebanon|Christianity in Lebanon|Secularism in Lebanon|Jews in Lebanon}}

{{bar box

|title=Religion in Beirut (2014){{cite web | url=https://lub-anan.com/المحافظات/بيروت/المذاهب/ | title=التوزيع حسب المذاهب للناخبين/ناخبات في محافظة بيروت في لبنان }}

|titlebar=

|left1=Religion

|right1=Percent

|float=right

|bars=

{{bar percent|Sunni Islam|DarkGreen|45.39}}

{{bar percent|Shia Islam|Green|15.75}}

{{bar percent|Christian|DarkBlue|36.08}}

{{Bar percent|Others|Gray|2.78}}

}}

{{Pie chart

|caption = Confessional breakdown of registered voters in Beirut (2014){{cite web | url=https://lub-anan.com/المحافظات/بيروت/المذاهب/ | title=التوزيع حسب المذاهب للناخبين/ناخبات في محافظة بيروت في لبنان }}

|label1 = Sunni Islam

|value1 = 45.39

|color1 = Darkgreen

|label2 = Shia Islam

|value2 = 15.75

|color2 = LightGreen

|label3 = Armenian Orthodox

|color3 = Maroon

|value3 = 9.60

|color4 = DodgerBlue

|label4 = Greek Orthodox

|value4 = 8.46

|label5 = Maronite Catholic

|value5 = 6.11

|color5 = Firebrick

|label6 = Melkite Greek Catholic

|color6 = DarkOrchid

|value6 = 4.22

|label7 = Armenian Catholic

|color7 = DarkRed

|value7 = 1.77

|label8 = Other Christian

|color8 = DarkBlue

|value8 = 5.92

|label9 = Other

|color9 = grey

|value9 = 2.78

}}

Beirut is one of the most cosmopolitan and religiously diverse cities of Lebanon and all of the Middle East.{{cite news |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D02EED81331F93AA25751C1A9609C8B63&sec=&spon= |date=December 19, 2006 |title=At Beirut Protest, a Reminder of Religious Diversity |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=17 November 2007 |archive-date=16 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240316002814/https://archive.nytimes.com/query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage-9D02EED81331F93AA25751C1A9609C8B63.html |url-status=live }} Before the civil war the neighborhoods of Beirut were fairly heterogeneous, but they became largely segregated by religion since the conflict.{{cite book |last=Khalaf |first=Samir |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EzwhBQAAQBAJ&pg=PT3 |title=Lebanon Adrift: From Battleground to Playground |date=28 May 2012 |publisher=Saqi |isbn=978-0-86356-834-3 |language=en |access-date=19 September 2020 |archive-date=16 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240316002854/https://books.google.com/books?id=EzwhBQAAQBAJ&pg=PT3#v=onepage&q&f=false |url-status=live }} East Beirut has a mainly Christian population with a small Muslim minority, whilst West Beirut has a Sunni Muslim majority with small minorities of Shia, Christians and Druze.{{Citation needed|date=March 2023}} Since the end of the civil war, East and West Beirut have begun to see an increase in Muslims and Christians moving into each half. Christians comprise 35% of Beirut's population, Muslims 63%, Druze 1%, and others 1%.{{Citation needed|date=March 2023}}

File:ChurchMosque.jpg|Church of Saint George Maronite and Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque side by side in Downtown Beirut

File:St Elie - St Gregory Armenian Catholic Cathedral.jpg|Cathedral of St Elias and St Gregory the Illuminator in Downtown Beirut

File:Beirut 017.jpg|Cathedral of St. George's Greek Orthodox in Downtown Beirut

File:Maghen Abraham Synagogue.jpg|Maghen Abraham Synagogue in Downtown Beirut

Family matters such as marriage, divorce and inheritance are still handled by the religious authorities representing a person's faith (the Ottoman "millet" system). Calls for civil marriage are unanimously rejected by the religious authorities, but civil marriages held in another country are recognized by Lebanese civil authorities.

{{Main|Beirut Central District}}

The Beirut Central District (BCD) or Centre Ville is the name given to Beirut's historical and geographical core by "Solidere", the "vibrant financial, commercial, and administrative hub of the country".{{cite web |url=http://www.cedarland.org/bcd.html |title=de beste bron van informatie over cedarland. Deze website is te koop! |work=cedarland.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060426233804/http://www.cedarland.org/bcd.html |archive-date=26 April 2006 |access-date=18 December 2012}} It is an area thousands of years old, traditionally a focus of business, finance, culture and leisure. Its reconstruction constitutes one of the most ambitious contemporary urban developments.{{cite web |url=http://www.solidere.com/solidere.html |title=Lebanese Company for the Reconstruction of Beirut Central District – Home |work=Solidere |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116054209/http://www.solidere.com/solidere.html |archive-date=16 January 2013 |access-date=18 December 2012}} Due to the devastation incurred on the city center from the Lebanese Civil War, the Beirut Central District underwent a thorough reconstruction and development plan that gave it back its cultural and economic position in the region. Ever since, Beirut Central District has evolved into an integrated business and commercial environment and the focus of the financial activity in the region. That evolution was accompanied with the relocation of international organizations, reoccupation of civic and government buildings, expansion of financial activities, and establishment of regional headquarters and global firms in the city center.{{cite web |url=http://www.solidere.com/business/busover.html |title=Business in Beirut City Center |work=Solidere |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116054622/http://www.solidere.com/business/busover.html |archive-date=16 January 2013 |access-date=18 December 2012}}

File:Centre-ville de Beyrouth.JPG

Assessment of the demand for build-up space in the BCD has been done in reference to a number of macro-economic, demographic, and urban planning considerations at a time of marked need for new activity poles in the city, such as Souks, financial, cultural and recreational centers.{{cite web |url=http://www.lebanon.com/construction/beirut/anticipa.htm |title=Construction @ Lebanon.com – Beirut – BCD: Anticipated Phasing |work=Lebanon.com |access-date=18 December 2012 |archive-date=16 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116054511/http://www.lebanon.com/construction/beirut/anticipa.htm |url-status=live }} The district's total area is {{convert|4690000|m2|0|abbr=off}}, the majority of which is dedicated to residential space ({{convert|1924000|m2|0|abbr=off|disp=or}}).{{cite web |url=http://www.lebanon.com/construction/beirut/program.htm |title=Construction @ Lebanon.com – Beirut – BCD: The Program |work=Lebanon.com |access-date=18 December 2012 |archive-date=16 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116054209/http://www.lebanon.com/construction/beirut/program.htm |url-status=live }} The Beirut Central District contains over 60 gardens, squares and open spaces. These spaces comprise landscaped streets, gardens, historical squares, pedestrian areas and sea promenades thus totaling to an area of {{convert|96|acres|0|abbr=on}} of open spaces.

The central district is Lebanon's prime location for shopping, entertainment, and dining. There are over 100 cafes, restaurants, pubs and nightclubs open in the Beirut Central District, and over 350 retail outlets distributed along its streets and quarters. Beirut Souks alone are home to over 200 stores and a handful of restaurants and cafes. Beirut Souks are the Central District's old medieval market, recently renovated along with the original Hellenistic street grid that characterized the old souks and the area's historical landmarks along long vaulted shopping alleys and arcades.{{cite web |url=http://www.solidere.com/beirut-souks/about/south-souks/ |title=South Souks {{!}} Beirut Souks – A new shopping experience |work=Solidere.com |access-date=18 December 2012 |archive-date=10 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610072528/http://www.solidere.com/beirut-souks/about/south-souks/ |url-status=live }} Solidere, the company responsible for the reconstruction and renovation of the district, organizes music and entertainment events all throughout the year like the Beirut Marathon, Fête de la Musique, Beirut Jazz Festival.

However, the means of urban development in this particular area of the city was subject to much criticism and controversy. Rafic Hariri, who would later become prime minister, was the majority stakeholder of the company, which raises concerns of conflict of interest in the context of a public-private partnership.{{cite web |url=https://interventionsjournal.net/2014/07/03/rebuilding-beirut-from-ruin-to-simulacrum/ |title=Rebuilding Beirut: From Ruin to Simulacrum |last=Ryan |first=Amanda |work=Interventions Journal |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220145202/https://interventionsjournal.net/2014/07/03/rebuilding-beirut-from-ruin-to-simulacrum/ |archive-date=20 December 2016 |access-date=12 November 2016}} Many of the expropriations that have made the project possible have been made at undervalued land rates, and partly paid in company share. Strict urbanization laws were put in order to oblige people to sell and not renovate themselves.{{Cite web |url=http://www.thealeppoproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Extended-bibliography.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.thealeppoproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Extended-bibliography.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |title=Rebuilding Downtown Beirut Extended Bibliography}} Today, Solidere acts as a de facto municipality, thus this quarter of the city is effectively privatized. It is for example forbidden to ride bikes on Zeituna Bay, a marina where many restaurants are located, and these laws are enforced by private security guards not national or municipal police.

The project was also criticized for destroying some of the city's architectural and cultural heritage. "Among the hundreds of destroyed buildings were "the last Ottoman and medieval remains in Beirut" wrote American University of Beirut professor Nabil Beyhum in the Journal The Beirut Review in 1992. Much of the damage had been done through unapproved demolitions in the 1980s and early 1990s, bringing down "some of the capital's most significant buildings and structures," wrote UCLA professor Saree Makdisi in the journal, Critical Inquiry, in 1997.".{{cite web |url=http://www.beirutreport.com/2014/01/erasing-memory-in-downtown-beirut.html |title=Erasing memory in downtown Beirut |work=Beirut Report |first=Habib |last=Battah |date=19 January 2014 |access-date=13 December 2016 |archive-date=7 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161207044937/http://www.beirutreport.com/2014/01/erasing-memory-in-downtown-beirut.html }} Moreover, many of the traditional privately owned shops in the Beirut Downtown were replaced by luxury outlets and high-end restaurants that only few people could afford. And most of public spaces promised by Solidere since the start of the reconstruction, such as "The Garden of Forgiveness", a central park, and an archaeological museum, remain unfinished until today,{{When|date=March 2017}} putting into question the actual benefit of the project to the population.

The actual success of the project has recently{{When|date=March 2017}} been in doubt, given that large quarters of the BCD are today empty, due to strong military presence, the Nejmeh Square where the parliament is located is most frequently completely deserted, and the businesses located there have mostly moved.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2015/jan/22/beirut-lebanon-glitzy-downtown-redevelopment-gucci-prada |title=Is Beirut's glitzy downtown redevelopment all that it seems? |first=Oliver |last=Wainwright |date=22 January 2015 |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=13 December 2016 |archive-date=29 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929073707/https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2015/jan/22/beirut-lebanon-glitzy-downtown-redevelopment-gucci-prada |url-status=live }}

File:Beirut Downtown.jpg

Beirut's economy is service-oriented with the main growth sectors being banking and tourism.

Beirut became a banking hub by leveraging its position as a commercial port and cultural center within the world economy. Under French mandate after World War I, France heavily invested in the city, reinforcing its role as a regional financial center. The Open Door Policy facilitated foreign capital inflows, with French firms dominating investments and four of Beirut's five leading banks being French-owned by the 1920s, after which the city further solidified its status as a key financial link between the West and the decolonizing Middle East.{{Cite book |last=Schayegh |first=Cyrus |title=The Middle East and the Making of the Modern World |publisher=Harvard University Press |year=2018 |isbn=978-0-674-98110-2 |edition=1st |location=Cambridge |pages=7–134 |language=en}}

In an area dominated by authoritarian or militarist regimes, the Lebanese capital was generally regarded as a haven of libertarianism, though a precarious one, as the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990) and subsequent conflicts significantly altered the political landscape.{{citation needed|date=March 2014}} With its seaport and airport—coupled with Lebanon's free economic and foreign exchange system, solid gold-backed currency, banking-secrecy law, and favorable interest rates—Beirut became an established banking center for Arab wealth, much of which was invested in construction, commercial enterprise, and industry (mostly the manufacture of textiles and shoes, food processing, and printing).{{cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/58884/Beirut/24957/Economic-and-political-conditions |title=Beirut – national capital, Lebanon |access-date=25 August 2016 |archive-date=10 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141110222634/http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/58884/Beirut/24957/Economic-and-political-conditions |url-status=live }} The economy of Beirut is diverse, including publishing, banking, trade and various industries. During that period, Beirut was the region's financial services center. At the onset of the oil boom starting in the 1960s, Lebanon-based banks were the main recipients of the region's petrodollars.It slowly however eventually regained its title as one of the region's largest economical hubs after massive reconstruction in its central district and infrastructure. {{cite web |url=http://www.lebanonembassyus.org/country_lebanon/economy.html |title=Profile of Lebanon: Economy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130908003830/http://www.lebanonembassyus.org/country_lebanon/economy.html |archive-date=8 September 2013 |access-date=27 November 2010}}

File:Zaitunay Bay, Downtown Beirut, Lebanon.jpg

Beirut is the focal point of the Economy of Lebanon. The capital hosts the headquarters of Banque du Liban (Lebanon's central bank), the Beirut Stock Exchange, the head office of Lebanon's flag-carrier Middle East Airlines, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, the Union of Arab Banks, and the Union of Arab Stock Exchanges.{{cite web |url=http://www.mea.com.lb/MEA/English/ContactUs/ContactInfo.htm |title=Contact Us |work=Middle East Airlines |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100127161620/http://www.mea.com.lb/MEA/English/ContactUs/ContactInfo.htm |archive-date=27 January 2010 |access-date=19 October 2009}}

File:West-Beirut1983.jpg, 1983]]

The banking system is the backbone of the local economy with a balance sheet of $152 billion at the end of 2012, nearing 3.5 times the GDP estimated at $43 billion by the IMF.{{cite journal |url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Business/Lebanon/2013/Mar-05/208825-torbey-banks-will-maintain-profits-in-2013.ashx#axzz2OrXoEjbS |title=Torbey: Banks will maintain profits in 2013 |journal=The Daily Star |access-date=25 August 2016 |archive-date=15 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815232452/http://www.dailystar.com.lb//Business/Lebanon/2013/Mar-05/208825-torbey-banks-will-maintain-profits-in-2013.ashx#axzz2OrXoEjbS }} Bank deposits also increased in 2012 by 8% to 125 billion dollars, 82 percent of the sector's assets. "Banks are still attracting deposits because the interest rates offered are higher than the ones in Europe and the United States", says Marwan Mikhael, head of research at BLOM Bank.{{cite web |url=http://www.executive-magazine.com/banking-and-finance/banking-sector-lebanon-2012/5567 |title=Lebanon's banking sector still well-fueled |work=Executive Magazine |date=12 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004221853/http://www.executive-magazine.com/banking-and-finance/banking-sector-lebanon-2012/5567 |archive-date=4 October 2013 |access-date=25 August 2016}}

Beirut's foreign reserves were still close to an all-time high when they reached $32.5 billion in 2011 and analysts say that the Central Bank can cover nearly 80 percent of the Lebanese currency in the market. This means that the Central Bank can easily cope with any unforeseen crisis in the future thanks to the massive foreign currency reserves.{{cite journal |url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Business/Lebanon/2012/Jan-06/159013-lebanons-foreign-currency-reserves-up-by-53-percent.ashx#axzz2OrXoEjbS |title=Lebanon's foreign currency reserves up by 5.3 percent |journal=The Daily Star |access-date=25 August 2016 |archive-date=15 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815234517/http://www.dailystar.com.lb//Business/Lebanon/2012/Jan-06/159013-lebanons-foreign-currency-reserves-up-by-53-percent.ashx#axzz2OrXoEjbS }}

The Lebanese banking system is endowed with several characteristics that promote the role of Beirut as a regional financial center, in terms of ensuring protection for foreign capital and earnings. The Lebanese currency is fully convertible and can be exchanged freely with any other currency. Moreover, no restrictions are put on the free flow of capital and earnings into and out of the Lebanese economy. The passing of the banking secrecy law on 3 September 1956, subjected all banks established in Lebanon as well as foreign banks' branches to the "secret of the profession". Both article 16 of law No. 282 dated 30 December 1993 and article 12 of decree No. 5451 dated 26 August 1994, offer exemptions from income tax on all interest and revenues earned on all types of accounts opened in Lebanese banks. On the first of April 1975, decree No. 29 established a free banking zone by granting the Lebanese government the right to exempt non-residents' deposits and liabilities in foreign currency from: the income tax on interest earned, the required reserves imposed by the Banque Du Liban by virtue of article 76 of the Code of Money and Credit, the premium of deposit guarantee imposed on bank deposits to the profit of the National Deposit Guarantee Institution.{{cite web |url=http://www.bdl.gov.lb/bfs/mainchr.htm |title=Main Characteristics of The Lebanese Banking & Financial Sectors |website=bdl.gov.lb |publisher=Banque du Liban |access-date=12 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605050024/http://www.bdl.gov.lb/bfs/mainchr.htm |archive-date=5 June 2013}}

File:RockyRaouché.jpg]]

The tourism industry in Beirut has been historically important to the local economy and remains to this day to be a major source of revenue for the city, and Lebanon in general. Before the Lebanese Civil War, Beirut was widely regarded as the "Paris of the Middle East",{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qj-gMqGK1YUC&pg=PA3 |title=Out of the Middle East: The Emergence of an Arab Global Business |first=Kamal |last=Shair |date=14 October 2006 |publisher=I.B.Tauris |isbn=978-1-84511-271-4 |page=3 |access-date=14 November 2015 |archive-date=16 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240316002903/https://books.google.com/books?id=Qj-gMqGK1YUC&pg=PA3 |url-status=live }} and also "Switzerland of the Middle East", often cited as a financial and business hub where visitors could experience the Levantine Mediterranean culture. Beirut's diverse atmosphere and ancient history make it an important destination which is slowly rebuilding itself after continued turmoil. However, in recent times, certain countries, such as the United States, have frequently placed Lebanon, and Beirut in particular, on their travel warnings lists due to the many car bombings and orchestrated acts of political violence.{{cite web |url=https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/lebanon-travel-advisory.html |title=Lebanon Travel Warning |publisher=U.S. Department of State – Bureau of Consular Affairs |access-date=30 July 2018 |archive-date=30 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180730140418/https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/lebanon-travel-advisory.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://travel.gc.ca/destinations/lebanon |title=Travel advice and advisories for Lebanon |publisher=Government of Canada |access-date=25 May 2014 |date=16 November 2012 |archive-date=9 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190409150233/https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/lebanon |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/lebanon |title=Lebanon Travel Advice |publisher=Gov.uk |access-date=25 May 2014 |archive-date=4 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190604043606/https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/lebanon |url-status=live }}

File:Pigeon Rocks Sunset (48707394).jpg

According to the 2012 tourist statistics, 34% of the tourists in Beirut came from states within the Arab League, 33% came from European countries (mainly France, Germany, and Britain), and 16% from the Americas (about half of which are from the United States).{{cite web |url=http://www.lebanon-tourism.gov.lb/Publications/Statistics |title=WebHost4Life |access-date=25 August 2016 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304191610/http://www.lebanon-tourism.gov.lb/Publications/Statistics }}

The largely pedestrianized Beirut Central District is the core of the Beirut tourism scene. The district is a cluster of stone-façade buildings lining arcaded streets and radial alleyways. The architecture of the area is a mix of French Architecture and Venetian Gothic architecture mixed with Arabesque and Ottoman Architecture. The district contains numerous old mosques and crusader churches, as well as uncovered remnants and ruins of the Roman era. The District contains dozens of restaurants, cafes and pubs, as well as a wide range of shopping stores mainly in Beirut Souks. High-rise hotels and towers line the district's New Waterfront, marina and seaside promenade.

Another popular tourist destination in Beirut is the Corniche Beirut, a {{convert|4.8|km|0|abbr=on}} pedestrian promenade that encircles the capital's seafront from the Saint George Bay in the north all the way to Avenue de Paris and Avenue General de Gaulle south of the city. The corniche reaches its maximum height above sea level at Raouché, a high-rise residential neighbourhood rising over a giant white limestone cliff and facing the recognisable off-shore Raouché Rocks.

Badaro is one of Beirut's most appealing neighborhoods, a lovely place to stroll during daytime and a destination for going out in the evening. Badaro is within Beirut's green district with a {{convert|75|acres|abbr=off|adj=mid}} public park (The Beirut Pine forest) and a {{convert|50|acres|abbr=off|adj=mid}} hippodrome. It is a neighborhood on a very human scale with small groceries around every corner. The neighborhood residents, a mix of old impoverished Christian bourgeoisie, bohemian style people in their 30s and well-established urban professionals, are loyal to local bakery and pastry shops. Because of the blossoming café and bar scene it has become lately a hip destination for Beirut's young and restless but old Beirutis remember that Badaro was already Beirut's version of the Village in the swinging sixties.{{Citation needed|date=October 2018}} Groceries and eateries can be found on almost every street of the area.{{Citation needed|date=October 2018}} There are dozens of restaurants, pubs and footpath cafés of virtually every style.{{Citation needed|date=October 2018}} Badaro "Village" thrives on local residents, day-trippers and hipsters from all over Beirut, office employees and many expatriates.{{Citation needed|date=October 2018}}

Hamra Street is a long cobblestone street connecting the Beirut Central District with the coastal Raouche area. The street is a large concentration of shopping stores, boutiques, restaurants, banks, street vendors, footpath cafes, newspaper kiosks, and a booming nightlife spurred by students from the neighboring American University of Beirut. The AUB campus is another popular visitor destination, composed of a cluster of 19th century red-roofed buildings dispersed on a wooded hillside overlooking the Mediterranean.

Gemmayzeh is Beirut's artistic bohemian quarter, full of narrow streets and historic buildings from the French era. It is located East of the Beirut Central District, bordering the Saifi Village. The neighborhood is well known for its trendy bars and pubs, cafes, restaurants and lounges; most are directly located on Rue Gouraud, the main thoroughfare that cuts through the middle of the district. Travel + Leisure magazine called Gemmayzeh "SoHo by the Sea," due to its colorful and chic cafés amid 1950s apartment buildings and hole-in-the-wall shops.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/back-in-action/2 |title=Beirut is Back |magazine=Travel + Leisure |access-date=25 August 2016 |archive-date=22 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221222151321/https://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/back-in-action/2 |url-status=live }} However, Gemmayzeh received the most damage by the Beirut explosion in 2020.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/beirut-explosions-lebanon-gemmayze-a9658681.html |title=Gemmayze, Beirut's beating heart, left in ruins by explosion |date=7 August 2020 |website=The Independent |access-date=25 February 2021 |language=en |archive-date=27 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027191405/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/beirut-explosions-lebanon-gemmayze-a9658681.html |url-status=live }}

File:Beyrouth (9861430944).jpg

Beirut is a destination for tourists from both the Arab world and West.{{Cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2005/01/28/1106850092882.html |title=Born-again Beirut |date=8 January 2005 |publisher=Fairfax Media |access-date=2 March 2010 |archive-date=19 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101219152105/http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2005/01/28/1106850092882.html |url-status=live }} In Travel + Leisure magazine's World Best Awards 2006, it was ranked the 9th best city in the world.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.travelandleisure.com/worldsbest/2006/results.cfm?cat%3Dcities |title=Top 10 Cities Overall |magazine=Travel + Leisure |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060807195623/http://www.travelandleisure.com/worldsbest/2006/results.cfm?cat=cities |archive-date=7 August 2006}} That list was voted upon shortly before the 2006 Lebanon War broke out, but in 2008 The Guardian listed Beirut as one of its top ten cities in the world.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2008/oct/15/glasgow-scotland |title=Lonely Planet guide rates Glasgow as one of the world's top 10 cities |last=Carrell |first=Severin |work=The Guardian |date=15 October 2008 |access-date=23 August 2011 |location=London |archive-date=19 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140119015641/http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2008/oct/15/glasgow-scotland |url-status=live }} The New York Times ranked it at number one on its "44 places to go" list of 2009. 2011 MasterCard Index revealed that Beirut had the second-highest visitor spending levels in the Middle East and Africa, totaling $6.5 billion. Beirut was chosen in 2012 by Condé Nast Traveller as the best city in the Middle East, beating Tel Aviv and Dubai.

Many of the tourists are returning Lebanese expatriates, but many are from Western countries. Approximately 3 million visitors visited in 2010; the previous record was 1.4 million in 1974.{{cite news |last=Lutz |first=Meris |url=http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-lebanon-tourism26-2009sep26,0,746311.story |title=Lebanon tourism is back from a holiday |work=Los Angeles Times |date=26 September 2009 |access-date=17 January 2010 |archive-date=12 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091012120201/http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-lebanon-tourism26-2009sep26,0,746311.story |url-status=live }}

Like other forms of tourism, medical tourism in Lebanon is on the rise recently. Although visitors from neighboring Arab nations make up the bulk of medical tourism patients here due to its proximity, Beirut is strongly trying to woo more Southern Europeans, Asians and North Americans to its land. Its Agency for Investment Development in Lebanon reports that growth in the medical tourism industry is growing by up to 30% a year since 2009. The country's tourism ministry is working closely with the medical sector and top-class hotels to create an organized, quality medical destination.{{cite web |url=http://www.allmedicaltourism.com/articles/destinations/lebanon/ |title=Destination |work=Allmedicaltourism.com |access-date=25 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304072136/http://www.allmedicaltourism.com/articles/destinations/lebanon/ |archive-date=4 March 2016}} Major hotel and spa chains work with local clinics, travel agencies and the tourism ministry to create comprehensive healthcare and recuperation packages for foreign visitors. The government is highly involved in this industry and strives to make the process as easy as possible.{{cite web |url=http://www.ttnworldwide.com/articles.aspx?ID=1357&artID=9634 |title=Spa Holidays Leading the way in medical tourism |work=ttnworldwide.com |access-date=25 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221225153/http://www.ttnworldwide.com/articles.aspx?ID=1357&artID=9634 |archive-date=21 February 2014}}

Cosmetic surgery is a major component of medical tourism in Lebanon. Most of the foreign patients come for routine operations like plastic surgery, dental or eye surgery, and Beirut's hospitals are also capable of performing specialized procedures such as internal bypass surgery and other technical treatments. Its top clinics and hospitals like Sahel General are equipped to handle the full range of surgical procedures. Beirut-based Clemenceau Medical Center (CMC), affiliated with Johns Hopkins International, was ranked one of the world's top ten best hospitals for medical tourism in 2012.{{cite web |url=http://eecoy.com/content/cmc-among-worlds-top-10-best-hospitals-medical-tourism?page=4 |title=CMC Among World's Top 10 Best Hospitals For Medical Tourism |work=eecoy.com |access-date=25 August 2016 |archive-date=4 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170104055927/http://eecoy.com/content/cmc-among-worlds-top-10-best-hospitals-medical-tourism?page=4 }}

Beirut is the capital of Lebanon and its seat of government.{{Cite magazine |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,722011,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206072227/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,722011,00.html |archive-date=6 December 2008 |title=Great Lebanon |magazine=TIME |date=7 June 1926 |access-date=5 May 2009}} The Lebanese Parliament,{{cite web |url=http://www.lebanonpanorama.com/frame_src/english/beirut.html |title=Beirut from the sky, Parliament Square, Ryad el Solh square |publisher=Lebanonpanorama.com |access-date=5 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210070129/http://lebanonpanorama.com/frame_src/english/beirut.html |archive-date=10 February 2009 }} all the Ministries and most of the public administrations, embassies and consulates are there.{{cite web |url=http://www.presidency.gov.lb/presidency/links/links.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012050110/http://www.presidency.gov.lb/presidency/links/links.htm |archive-date=12 October 2007 |title=Links |date=12 October 2007 |access-date=25 July 2009}} Beirut Governorate is one of eight mohafazat (plural of mohafazah, or governorate).

File:Beirut city hall.jpg|Facade of the Beirut City Hall

File:Grand serail solidere 4.jpg|The Grand Serail

File:BeirutParliament.jpg|Lebanese Parliament

File:UNbeirut.jpg|United Nations Lebanon headquarters

The city is home to numerous international organizations. The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) is headquartered in downtown Beirut,{{cite web |url=http://www.unfpa.org/icpd5/bulletins/bulletn4.htm |title=ICPD+5 |access-date=28 August 2016}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}{{Dead link|date=June 2015}}, United Nations General Assembly. Retrieved 15 November 2007.{{cite web |url=http://www.escwa.org.lb/ |title=United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia |publisher=Escwa.org.lb |access-date=17 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905081650/http://www.escwa.org.lb/ |archive-date=5 September 2015 }} The Arab Air Carriers' Organization (AACO),{{cite web |url=http://www.aaco.org/contact.asp |title=Arab Air Carriers Organization |publisher=Aaco.org |access-date=17 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100128030601/http://www.aaco.org/contact.asp |archive-date=28 January 2010 }} the Union of Arab Banks{{cite web |url=http://www.uabonline.org/contact.php |title=Union of Arab Banks |publisher=uabonline.org |access-date=29 January 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130416042129/http://www.uabonline.org/contact.php |archive-date=16 April 2013 }} and the Union of Arab Stock Exchanges{{cite web |url=http://www.arabstockexchanges.org/uaseportal/portal/contactus.html?pageParam=contactus&menu=8 |title=Union of Arab Stock Exchanges |publisher=arabstockexchanges.org |access-date=12 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101105041250/http://www.arabstockexchanges.org/uaseportal/portal/contactus.html?pageParam=contactus&menu=8 |archive-date=5 November 2010}} and the World youth alliance are also headquartered in the city. The International Labour Organization (ILO){{cite web |url=http://www.ilo.org.lb/ |title=International Labour Organization (Lebanon) |publisher=Ilo.org.lb |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010725145446/http://www.ilo.org.lb/ |archive-date=25 July 2001 |access-date=17 January 2010}} and UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization){{cite web |title=UNESCO Beirut |url=https://www.unesco.org/en/fieldoffice/beirut |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529113759/https://www.unesco.org/en/fieldoffice/beirut |archive-date=29 May 2023 |access-date=1 June 2023 |website=UNESCO }} both have regional offices in Beirut covering the Arab world.

Higher education throughout Lebanon is provided by universities, colleges and technical and vocational institutes. The Directorate General of Higher Education is responsible for managing universities, colleges, and institutes in Beirut and nationwide.

The American University of Beirut (AUB) and Université Saint-Joseph (USJ) are the oldest English-language and French-language universities in the country, respectively. AUB was founded in 1866, and USJ in 1875. The Lebanese University is the only public institution for higher education in Beirut.{{RTFlink|[http://www.unesco.org/iau/onlinedatabases/systems_data/lb.rtf Lebanon – Education system] {{cite web |url=http://www.unesco.org/iau/onlinedatabases/systems_data/lb.rtf |title=IAU – International Association of Universities – the Global Voice for Higher Education |access-date=20 November 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080829152854/http://www.unesco.org/iau/onlinedatabases/systems_data/lb.rtf |archive-date=29 August 2008 }}|26.5 KiB}}, Unesco.org Beirut is also home to Lebanese American University (LAU), American University of Science and Technology (AUST), University of Balamand, École Supérieure des Affaires (ESA), Beirut Arab University (BAU), Haigazian University (HU), Lebanese International University (LIU), Notre Dame University – Louaize (NDU), and Université La Sagesse (ULS).{{cite web |url=http://www.ncusar.org/programs/lau-sinarc.html |title=NCUSAR Study Abroad Opportunity |publisher=Ncusar.org |access-date=14 June 2010 |archive-date=5 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405174043/http://ncusar.org/programs/lau-sinarc.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.pappas-consulting.com/international.html |title=International Served By Pappas Consulting |publisher=Pappas-consulting.com |access-date=14 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090420180759/http://www.pappas-consulting.com/international.html |archive-date=20 April 2009 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.universitiesoflebanon.com/2010/03/15/about-lau/ |title=Blog Archive " About LAU |publisher=Universities of Lebanon |date=15 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717163702/http://www.universitiesoflebanon.com/2010/03/15/about-lau/ |archive-date=17 July 2011 |access-date=14 June 2010}}{{cite web |url=http://www.acpe-accredit.org/international/accredit.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040417071836/http://www.acpe-accredit.org/international/accredit.asp |archive-date=17 April 2004 |title=International Colleagues, International Accreditation Activities, Canada, PDF, ACPE – Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education |publisher=Acpe-accredit.org |date=30 June 2004 |access-date=14 June 2010}}{{cite web |url=http://www.lau.edu.lb/about/charter_acc/index.php |title=About LAU | Charter and Accreditation |publisher=LAU |access-date=14 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100729173854/http://www.lau.edu.lb/about/charter_acc/index.php |archive-date=29 July 2010 }}

Among the private secondary schools in Beirut are Lycee Abdel Kader, Grand Lycée Franco-Libanais, Lycée Franco-Libanais Verdun, American Community School, International College, Collège Louise Wegmann, Rawdah High School, Saint Mary's Orthodox College,{{cite web |url=http://www.educalys.edu.lb |title=Educalys website |publisher=Educalys.edu.lb |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722144453/http://www.educalys.edu.lb/ |archive-date=22 July 2011 |access-date=5 September 2011}} Collège Notre Dame de Nazareth, Collège du Sacré-Coeur Gemmayzé, Collège Protestant Français, Armenian Evangelical Central High School, German School of Beirut, and the Armenian Hamazkayin Arslanian College.

File:American-University-Beirut-NW.jpg|AUB established in 1866 by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions.

File:USJ Campus.jpg|Saint Joseph University, or Université Saint-Joseph, founded by the Jesuits in 1875

File:AUST at night.jpg|American University of Science and Technology, established in Beirut in 1989

File:Beirut Universitet Haigazian.jpg|Haigazian University was founded in 1955 by the Armenian Evangelical community.

File:GU CAM.jpg|Global University in Beirut

File:Portalis mansion.jpg|École supérieure des affaires, founded in 1996 as a joint co-operation between the Paris Chamber of Commerce (Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie de Paris) and the Bank of Lebanon

{{main|Transport in Beirut}}

File:Beirut Airport DSC 0439.JPG]]

The city's renovated airport is the Rafic Hariri International Airport, located in the southern suburbs. The Port of Beirut, one of the largest and most commercial in the eastern Mediterranean, is another port of entry. As a final destination, Lebanon can be reached by road from Damascus via the Beqaa valley in the east.{{cite web |url=http://www.ikamalebanon.com/info/transportation.htm |title=Transportation & Communication |publisher=Ikamalebanon.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102003806/http://www.ikamalebanon.com/info/transportation.htm |archive-date=2 January 2010 |access-date=17 January 2010}}

Beirut has frequent bus connections to other cities in Lebanon and major cities in Syria such as Homs and its capital Damascus. There are a number of different companies providing public transport in Lebanon. The publicly owned buses are managed by Office des Chemins de Fer et des Transports en Commun (OCFTC – "Railway and Public Transportation Authority"). Buses for northern destinations and Syria leave from Charles Helou Station.{{cite web |url=http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/destinations/middle-east/lebanon/beirut/transport |title=Beirut Transport |work=Lonely Planet |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024173134/http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/destinations/middle-east/lebanon/beirut/transport |archive-date=24 October 2007}}

The ministry of transport and public works purchased an extra 250 intra and inter-buses in 2012 to better serve regions outside the capital as well as congestion-choked Beirut, hoping to lessen the use of private cars.{{Citation needed|date=April 2013}}

Beirut has also private buses that are provided by the Lebanese Commuting Company.

In 2017, Beirut introduced a bike sharing service in certain areas of the city.

File:The Garden Show & Spring Festival.jpg]]

The culture of Beirut has evolved under the influence of many different peoples and civilizations, such as Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Ottoman Turks and French. The law school in downtown Beirut was one of the world's earliest and was considered to be a leading center of legal studies in the Eastern Roman Empire.

Beirut hosted the Francophonie and Arab League summits in 2002, and in 2007 it hosted the ceremony for the Prix Albert Londres,{{cite web |url=http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/france-priorities_1/democracy-human-rights_1101/freedom-of-expression_5346/albert-londres-prizes-beirut-may-18-2007_9133.html |title=Albert Londres Prizes |work=France Diplomatie |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014030558/http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/france-priorities_1/democracy-human-rights_1101/freedom-of-expression_5346/albert-londres-prizes-beirut-may-18-2007_9133.html |archive-date=14 October 2007}}{{cite web |url=http://www.ambafrance-us.org/news/briefing/us110507.asp |title=Daily Press Briefing |publisher=Embassy of France in the U.S. |access-date=9 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080109193024/http://www.ambafrance-us.org/news/briefing/us110507.asp |archive-date=9 January 2008}} which rewards outstanding francophone journalists every year. The city also hosted the Jeux de la Francophonie in 2009.{{cite web |url=http://www.libanvision.com/jeux-liban.htm |title=Les Jeux de la Francophonie au Liban Beyrouth 2009 |work=Libanvision |language=fr |access-date=15 November 2007 |archive-date=28 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928073625/http://www.libanvision.com/jeux-liban.htm |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.moldavie.fr/article.php3?id_article=297 |title=Les Jeux de la Francophonie |work=Moldavie.fr |language=fr |access-date=15 November 2007 |archive-date=17 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017233100/http://www.moldavie.fr/article.php3?id_article=297 }} In the same year, it was proclaimed World Book Capital by UNESCO.{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=23154&Cr=unesco&Cr1=book |title=2009 World Book Capital |website=un.org |date=6 July 2007 |access-date=28 June 2017 |archive-date=20 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171120045922/http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=23154&Cr=unesco&Cr1=book |url-status=live }}

Beirut has also been called the "party capital of the Arab world".{{Cite news |url=http://mideast.blogs.time.com/2009/03/17/drugs-in-the-middle-east/ |title=Drugs in the Middle East |last=Butters |first=Andrew Lee |date=17 March 2009 |work=Times/CNN |access-date=2 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090322080348/http://mideast.blogs.time.com/2009/03/17/drugs-in-the-middle-east/ |archive-date=22 March 2009}} Rue Monnot has an international reputation among clubbers,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7241147.stm |title=Is party over for Beirut's clubbers? |last=Sergeant |first=Mike |date=13 February 2008 |work=BBC News |access-date=2 March 2010 |archive-date=24 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090424031317/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7241147.stm |url-status=live }} and Rue Gouraud in districts such as Gemmayze and Mar Mikhael have emerged as new hotspots for bar patrons and clubbers, as well as "The Alleyway" in Hamra Street.

File:Beirut Museum.jpg

File:Sursock house.jpg]]

The National Museum of Beirut is the principal museum of archaeology in Lebanon. It has about 1,300 exhibits ranging in date from prehistoric times to the medieval Mamluk period.{{cite web |url=http://www.beirutnationalmuseum.com/e-histoire.htm |title=History |work=beirutnationalmuseum.com |publisher=National Museum of Beirut |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130818152333/http://www.beirutnationalmuseum.com/e-histoire.htm |archive-date=18 August 2013}} The Archaeological Museum of the American University of Beirut is the third-oldest museum in the Middle East, exhibiting a wide range of artefacts from Lebanon and neighboring countries.{{cite web |url=http://ddc.aub.edu.lb/projects/museum/ |title=AUB Museum |publisher=Ddc.aub.edu.lb |access-date=5 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090602122900/http://ddc.aub.edu.lb/projects/museum/ |archive-date=2 June 2009 }} Sursock Museum was built by the illustrious Sursock family at the end of the 19th century as a private villa for Nicolas Sursock, and then donated to the Lebanese state upon his death. It now houses Beirut's most influential and popular art museum. The permanent collection shows a set of Japanese engravings, numerous works of Islamic art and classic Italian paintings, while temporary exhibitions are also shown throughout the year. The Robert Mouawad Private Museum near Beirut's Grand Serail exhibits Henri Pharaon's private collection of archaeology and antiques.{{cite web |url=http://www.rmpm.info/ |title=Welcome to Robert Mouawad Private museum |publisher=Rmpm.info |access-date=5 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090501145958/http://www.rmpm.info/ |archive-date=1 May 2009 |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |url=https://sursockhouse.com/ |title=SursockHouse |website=SursockHouse |access-date=24 May 2018 |archive-date=25 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180525062827/https://sursockhouse.com/ |url-status=live }}

Planet Discovery is a children's science museum with interactive experiments, exhibitions, performances, workshops and awareness competitions.{{cite web |url=http://www.solidere.com/history/planet.html |title=Beirut City Center Culture – Planet Discovery |publisher=Solidere |access-date=5 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725083622/http://www.solidere.com/history/planet.html |archive-date=25 July 2008}} The Saint Joseph University opened the Museum of Lebanese Prehistory in 2000, the first prehistory museum in the Arabic Middle East, displaying bones, stone tools and neolithic pottery collected by Jesuits.{{cite web |url=http://publicus.culture.hu-berlin.de/collections/detail.php?dsn=549 |title=UMAC Worldwide Database of University Museums & Collections |publisher=Publicus.culture.hu-berlin.de |access-date=5 September 2011 |archive-date=19 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719164622/http://publicus.culture.hu-berlin.de/collections/detail.php?dsn=549 }}

In October 2013, Mim Museum, a private mineral museum, opened its doors to the public. It has on display some 2000 minerals from more than 70 countries. Mim museum's collection is considered to be one of the world's paramount private collection for the variety and quality of its minerals.{{cite journal |title=The Opening of the Mim Mineral Museum in Beirut, Lebanon |last=Wilson |first=W. |date=2013 |journal=The Mineralogical Record |volume=45 |number=1 |pages=61–83}}{{cite web |url=http://www.mindat.org/article.php/1807/The%20MIM%20Museum%20opening,%20Lebanon |title=Peter Lyckberg – The MIM Museum opening, Lebanon |access-date=25 August 2016}} A didactic circuit, accompanied by screens showing films and scientific applications of mineralogy, will reveal a world of unsuspected marvels—priceless both from an aesthetic and scientific point of view. Mimodactylus libanensis "mimo", the fossil of a pterodactyl, is featured in a special wing. This one-of-a-kind complete specimen in the Middle-East was found in Lebanon. It is promoted by means of state-of-the-art modern techniques: a hologram, an auto-stereoscopic movie, a full-scale reconstitution and a game "fly with mimo" – an entertainment that delights children and adults. Moreover, Mim hosts a thematic exhibition of 200 marine fossils. "Fish'n'Stone" was organised with the collaboration of Mémoire du Temps. Known throughout the world, those fossils were quarried in the Lebanese mountains. The history of the fossil formation is shown through an animation that submerses you in the marine life – a time capsule that takes you in a journey to some 100 million of years ago.

Beirut was named the top place to visit by The New York Times in 2009,{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/01/11/travel/20090111_DESTINATIONS.html |title=The 44 Places to Go in 2009 – Interactive Graphic |location=Beirut (Lebanon);Washington (DC);Galápagos Islands;Berlin (Germany);Las Vegas (Nev);Hawaii;Vienna (Austria);Doha (Qatar);Dakar (Senegal);Phuket (Thailand);Chicago (Ill);Dallas (Tex);Bhutan;Florida Keys;Rome (Italy);Cuba;Penang (Malaysia);Seychelles Islands;Florianopolis (Brazil);Copenhagen (Denmark);Monument Valley;Great Britain;Cologne (Germany);Reykjavík (Iceland);Red Sea;Egypt;Deauville (France);South Africa;India;Kazakhstan;Buffalo (NY);Madagascar;Tasmania (Australia);Stockholm (Sweden);Alaska;Pennsylvania;Zambia |work=The New York Times |date=11 January 2009 |first1=Zach |last1=Wise |first2=Miki |last2=Meek/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090422182843/http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/01/11/travel/20090111_DESTINATIONS.html |archive-date=22 April 2009 |access-date=5 May 2009}} and as one of the ten liveliest cities in the world by Lonely Planet in the same year.{{cite web |url=http://www.lonelyplanet.com/lebanon/beirut |title=Beirut Travel Information and Travel Guide – Lebanon |publisher=Lonely Planet |date=24 March 2009 |access-date=5 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090524052809/http://www.lonelyplanet.com/lebanon/beirut |archive-date=24 May 2009 |url-status=live}} According to a 2010 study by the American global consulting firm Mercer comparing high-end items such as upscale residential areas and entertainment venues, Beirut was ranked as the 4th most expensive city in the Middle East and 15th among the Upper Middle Income Countries included in the survey.{{cite journal |url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Business/Lebanon/2011/Jul-18/Beirut-ranked-4th-most-expensive-Mideast-city.ashx#axzz2OabZIz8Z |title=Beirut ranked 4th most expensive Mideast city |journal=The Daily Star |date=18 July 2011 |access-date=26 March 2013 |archive-date=20 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130620155444/http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Business/Lebanon/2011/Jul-18/Beirut-ranked-4th-most-expensive-Mideast-city.ashx#axzz2OabZIz8Z }} Beirut came in first place regionally and 10th place internationally in a 2010 study by "EuroCost International" about the rental markets for high quality housing.{{cite web |url=http://www.beirutnightlife.com/news/beirut-no-1-expensive-city-in-the-middle-east/ |title=Beirut No. 1 expensive city in the Middle East |work=Beirutnightlife.com |date=24 September 2010 |access-date=26 March 2013 |archive-date=31 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031220058/http://www.beirutnightlife.com/news/beirut-no-1-expensive-city-in-the-middle-east/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.eurocost.com/en/rent_world_2010.html |title=Worldwide expats rent prices ranking 2010 |work=Eurocost.com |access-date=26 March 2013 |archive-date=11 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121211110313/http://www.eurocost.com/en/rent_world_2010.html }} Beirut is an international hub of highly active and diverse nightlife with bars, dance bars and nightclubs staying open well past midnight.{{cite web |url=https://www.the961.com/beirut-looks-like-a-ghost-town/ |title=Beirut That Never Sleeps Has Now Another Story to Tell (PHOTOS) |date=29 June 2015 |publisher=The961 |access-date=14 February 2022 |archive-date=6 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220206174742/https://www.the961.com/beirut-looks-like-a-ghost-town/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.originaltravel.co.uk/travel-blog/beirut-city-the-real-city-that-never-sleeps |title=Beirut City: The Real City That Never Sleeps |date=29 June 2015 |publisher=Original Travel |access-date=14 February 2022 |archive-date=6 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220206173923/https://www.originaltravel.co.uk/travel-blog/beirut-city-the-real-city-that-never-sleeps |url-status=live }}

The 2011 MasterCard Index revealed that Beirut had the second-highest visitor spending levels in the Middle East and Africa, totaling $6.5 billion.{{cite journal |url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Business/Lebanon/2011/Jun-20/Beirut-ranks-second-for-visitor-spending-in-region.ashx#axzz1qrXPMv2b |title=Beirut ranks second for visitor spending in region {{!}} Business, Lebanon |journal=The Daily Star |date=20 June 2011 |access-date=18 December 2012 |archive-date=23 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130723135333/http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Business/Lebanon/2011/Jun-20/Beirut-ranks-second-for-visitor-spending-in-region.ashx#axzz1qrXPMv2b }} Beirut was chosen in 2012 by Condé Nast Traveller as the best city in the Middle East.{{cite web |url=http://www.cntraveler.com/readers-choice-awards/africa-middle-east/top-5-cities-middle-east#slide=1 |title=Middle East: Top 5 Cities: Readers' Choice Awards |work=Condé Nast Traveler |date=16 October 2012 |access-date=26 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130203134849/http://www.cntraveler.com/readers-choice-awards/africa-middle-east/top-5-cities-middle-east |archive-date=3 February 2013}} In 2013, Condé Nast Traveller ranked Beirut in the top 20 best cities in the world.{{cite web |url=http://www.cntraveler.com/readers-choice-awards/best-cities-world_slideshow_20-Seville_6 |title=Top 25 Cities in the World |work=Condé Nast Travler |date=November 2013 |access-date=7 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222062045/http://www.cntraveler.com/readers-choice-awards/best-cities-world_slideshow_20-Seville_6 |archive-date=22 February 2014}}

On 7 December 2014, Beirut was selected to be among the New 7 Wonders of Cities, along with Doha, Durban, La Paz, Havana, Kuala Lumpur and Vigan.{{cite web |url=http://world.new7wonders.com/2014/12/07/new7wonders-cities/ |title=And the New7Wonders Cities are... |access-date=25 August 2016 |archive-date=11 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160511210237/http://world.new7wonders.com/2014/12/07/new7wonders-cities/ |url-status=live }} The campaign was held by New 7 Wonders.{{cite web |url=http://www.new7wonders.com/ |title=New7Wonders |access-date=25 August 2016 |archive-date=25 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200525102950/https://new7wonders.com/ |url-status=live }}

In 2016, Yahoo listed Beirut as the best international city for food.{{cite web |url=https://www.yahoo.com/style/best-international-cities-food-162605431/photo-p-lebanons-capital-city-beirut-photo-162929793.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=tw |title=The Best International Cities for Food |date=12 August 2016 |access-date=25 August 2016 |archive-date=18 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160918071524/https://www.yahoo.com/style/best-international-cities-food-162605431/photo-p-lebanons-capital-city-beirut-photo-162929793.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=tw }} Travel and Leisure ranked Beirut in the top 15 of the world's best cities.{{cite journal |url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2016/Jul-12/361592-beirut-defies-all-odds-as-one-of-worlds-best-cities.ashx |title=Beirut ranked as one of world's best cities |journal=The Daily Star |access-date=25 August 2016 |archive-date=16 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816233700/http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2016/Jul-12/361592-beirut-defies-all-odds-as-one-of-worlds-best-cities.ashx |url-status=live }}

It was voted the must-visit city for the year 2019 by World Tourists.{{citation needed|date=November 2018}}

Due to anti-government protests as of October 2019 followed by dire economic situation and travel bans due to coronavirus outbreak, the tourism sector was badly affected resulting in decrease of number of tourists.

Beirut is a main centre for the television, radio stations, newspaper, and book publishing industries.

Television stations based in Beirut include Télé Liban, LBC, ÓTV (Orange TV), MTV Lebanon, Tele Lumiere (Catholic TV), Future TV, New TV, NBN, ANB and Saudi TV 1 on 33 UHF and MBC 1, MBC 4, MBC Action, Fox, Al Jazeera, Rotana, OSN First, OSN News, Al Yawm and Arabic Series Channel on 45 UHF.

Radio Stations include Mix FM Lebanon, Virgin Radio Lebanon, Radio One Lebanon, Sawt el Ghad, RLL, Jaras Scoop, NRJ Lebanon...

Newspapers include Daily Beirut, An-Nahar, Al Joumhouria, As-Safir, Al Mustaqbal, Al-Akhbar, Al-Balad, Ad-Diyar, Al Anwar, Al Sharq.

Newspapers and magazines published in French include L'Orient Le Jour (since 1970), La Revue Du Liban, Al Balad-French Version, Al Intiqad, Magazine L'Hebdo and Le Commerce du Levant.

English newspapers published in Beirut include Executive Magazine (weekly), Beirut Online, Beirut Times (weekly) and Monday Morning.

The Lebanese capital hosted the Mediterranean Games in 1959, FIBA Asia Champions Cup in 1999, 2000, 2012, the AFC Asian Cup in 2000, and the FIBA Asia Cup in 2010. Beirut was the host city for the 6th Annual Games of the Jeux de la Francophonie in 2009. Beirut also hosted the Pan Arab Games in 1957 and 1997. In 2017, Beirut also hosted the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup.

Beirut, with Sidon and Tripoli, hosted the 2000 AFC Asian Cup.{{cite web |url=http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/english/200010/21/eng20001021_53229.html |title=China Ready to Face Tough Task in Asian Cup Bidding |work=People's Daily |access-date=16 November 2007 |archive-date=20 February 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080220161327/http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/english/200010/21/eng20001021_53229.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.maxell.co.jp/afc/en/lebanon_football.html |title=Lebanese Football need to make their mark in Asia |work=Maxell |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206095145/http://www.maxell.co.jp/afc/en/lebanon_football.html |archive-date=6 December 2008}} There are two stadiums in the city, Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium and Beirut Municipal Stadium.

Basketball is the most popular sport in Lebanon. Currently, 6 Beirut teams play in the Lebanese Basketball League: Sagesse, Al Riyadi Beirut, Homenetmen Beirut, Hoops Club, Beirut Club and Dynamo Beirut.

Other sports events in Beirut include the annual Beirut Marathon, hip ball, weekly horse racing at the Beirut Hippodrome, and golf and tennis tournaments that take place at Golf Club of Lebanon. Three out of the five teams in the Lebanese rugby league championship are based in Beirut. Lebanon men's national ice hockey team plays out of Montreal, in Canada.

File:Beirut Souks.jpg shopping mall]]

There are hundreds of art galleries in Beirut and its suburbs. Every year, hundreds of fine art students graduate from universities and institutions. Artist workshops exist all over Lebanon. The inauguration of the Beirut Art Center, a non-profit association, space and platform dedicated to contemporary art in Lebanon,{{cite web |url=http://beirutartcenter.org/presentation.php |title=Beirut Art Center |access-date=19 February 2013 |archive-date=4 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130304031647/http://beirutartcenter.org/presentation.php }} in the Mkalles suburb of Beirut added to the number of exhibition spaces available in the city, with a screening and performance room, mediatheque, book store, café and terrace. Adjacent to the latter is the Ashkal Alwan Home Workspace, a venue hosting cultural events and educational programs.

A number of international fashion designers{{Who|date=March 2012}} have displayed their work in big fashion shows.{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-lebanon-fashion-idUSTRE69C3JP20101013 |title=Lebanese fashion designers reign supreme despite crisis |work=Reuters |date=13 October 2010 |access-date=1 January 2014 |archive-date=2 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102194027/http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/10/13/us-lebanon-fashion-idUSTRE69C3JP20101013 |url-status=live}} Most major fashion labels have shops in Beirut's shopping districts, and the city is home to a number of local fashion designers, some of whom like Elie Saab, Yara Farhat, Reem Acra, Zuhair Murad, Georges Chakra, Georges Hobeika, Jean Faris, Nicolas Jebran, Rabih Kayrouz and Abed Mahfouz have achieved international fame.

Beirut is also the home for a dynamic street art scene that has developed after the Lebanese Civil War, one of the most notable street artists is Yazan Halwani who is known to produce the largest murals on the walls of Beirut in areas such as Gemmayzeh, Hamra, Verdun and Achrafieh.{{cite web |url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/06/qa-calligraphy-meets-street-art-beirut-150616064634855.html |title=Jazeera English |access-date=8 July 2015 |archive-date=9 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709104408/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/06/qa-calligraphy-meets-street-art-beirut-150616064634855.html |url-status=live }}

Beirut is also international artists' concert tour stop city. Artists like Shakira, Mariah Carey, Enrique Iglesias, Andrea Bocelli, Pitbull, Engelbert Humperdinck, Scorpions, and many more have included Beirut on their concert tours.

• Tawfiq Yusuf 'Awwad's 1972 novel Death In Beirut (Arabic: طواحين بيروت) takes place in Beirut in the late 1960s.
• Ghada al-Samman's 1977 book Beirut Nightmares (Arabic: كوابيس بيروت) describes Beirut during the civil war in the mid-1970s.
• Caramel, a 2007 film by Nadine Labaki, tells the story of five women who work in a beauty salon in Beirut.
• The 2008 Israeli animated film Waltz with Bashir portrays Beirut during the Israeli invasion in 1982.
• William Henry Bartlett painted a view of the city with Mount Lebanon in the background in 1838, with a poetical illustration by Letitia Elizabeth Landon, as {{ws|The Cedars of Lebanon}}{{cite book |last=Landon |first=Letitia Elizabeth |title=Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1838 |url=https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=49BbAAAAQAAJ&pg=GBS.PA98 |section=picture |year=1837 |publisher=Fisher, Son & Co. |access-date=18 December 2022 |archive-date=18 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221218201603/https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=49BbAAAAQAAJ&pg=GBS.PA96 |url-status=live }}{{cite book |last=Landon |first=Letitia Elizabeth |title=Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1838 |url=https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=49BbAAAAQAAJ&pg=GBS.PA100 |section=poetical illustration |page=29 |year=1837 |publisher=Fisher, Son & Co. |access-date=18 December 2022 |archive-date=18 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221218201603/https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=49BbAAAAQAAJ&pg=GBS.PA98 |url-status=live }}
• American rock band Beirut is named for the city.{{cite news |last1=Syme |first1=Rachel |title=Beirut: The Band |url=https://nymag.com/arts/popmusic/features/18856/ |access-date=January 11, 2023 |work=New York |date=August 4, 2006 |archive-date=3 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103170230/https://nymag.com/arts/popmusic/features/18856/ |url-status=bot: unknown}}
• In the American television series Homeland, the episode "Beirut Is Back" (2012) was widely mocked for its portrayal of Beirut's Hamra neighborhood, which the show depicted as being a Hezbollah stronghold. Lebanon's government considered filing a lawsuit in response to the episode.{{cite news |title='Homeland's' Portrayal of Beirut Prompts Lebanon to Consider Lawsuit |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/homelands-portrayal-beirut-prompts-lebanon-381493/ |access-date=January 12, 2023 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=October 21, 2012 |archive-date=12 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230112200809/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/homelands-portrayal-beirut-prompts-lebanon-381493/ |url-status=live }}

File:Beirut 1913.jpg|Beirut, 1913

File:Aerial view of Beirut -1970.jpg|Aerial view of Beirut, 1970

File:Beirut 1965.webm|Beirut, 1965

File:Beirut Corniche, Beirut, Lebanon.jpg|Beirut Corniche

File:Cliffs, Beirut, Lebanon.jpg|Cliffs, Beirut

File:Beirut-in-1919.webm|Beirut, 1919

File:Martyrs' Monument, Beirut, Lebanon.jpg|Martyrs' Monument

File:Central Beirut, Lebanon.jpg|Central Beirut

File:Beirut at Night.jpg|Beirut at night

Beirut is twinned with:{{cite web |url=http://www.beirut.gov.lb/MCMSTest/Menu-Pages/SisterCitiesEN.aspx?NRMODE=Published&NRORIGINALURL=%2Fwww%2Ebeirut%2Egov%2Elb%2FMCMSEN%2FTwinning%2Bthe%2BCities%2F&NRNODEGUID=%7B18839037-0140-436E-A1AF-7F8F3693C3E6%7D&NRCACHEHINT=NoModifyGuest |title=Twinning the Cities |publisher=City of Beirut |access-date=13 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080221055403/http://www.beirut.gov.lb/MCMSTest/Menu-Pages/SisterCitiesEN.aspx?NRMODE=Published&NRORIGINALURL=%2Fwww.beirut.gov.lb%2FMCMSEN%2FTwinning+the+Cities%2F&NRNODEGUID=%7B18839037-0140-436E-A1AF-7F8F3693C3E6%7D&NRCACHEHINT=NoModifyGuest |archive-date=21 February 2008}}{{better source needed|reason=unreadable|date=July 2017}}

• Athens, Greece
• Los Angeles, United States
• Paris, France
• Yerevan, Armenia{{cite web |url=http://www.yerevan.am/en/partner/sister-cities/ |title=Yerevan – Twin Towns & Sister Cities |access-date=4 November 2013 |work=Yerevan Municipality Official Website |publisher=2005–2013 www.yerevan.am |archive-date=31 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031192729/http://www.yerevan.am/en/partner/sister-cities/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.yerevan.am/pages.php?lang=1&id=184&page_name=news |script-title=hy:ԵՐԵՎԱՆԻ ՔԱՂԱՔԱՊԵՏԱՐԱՆՊԱՇՏՈՆԱԿԱՆ ԿԱՅՔ |website=www.yerevan.am |access-date=5 August 2013 |trans-title=Yerevan expanding its international relations |language=hy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512174924/http://www.yerevan.am/pages.php?lang=1&id=184&page_name=news |archive-date=12 May 2013}}
• Lusaka, Zambia

{{main category|People from Beirut}}

• Beirut International Exhibition & Leisure Center
• Beirut Heritage Trail.[https://www.solidere.com/city-center/history-and-culture/heritage-trail Solidere website, Heritage Trail]

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{citation |first=Linda Jones |last=Hall |title=Roman Berytus: Beirut in Late Antiquity |date=2004}}.
• {{citation |last=Head |first=Barclay |editor=Ed Snible |author2=G.F. Hill |author3=George MacDonald |author4=W. Wroth |display-authors=1 |display-editors=0 |url=http://snible.org/coins/hn/index.html |title=Historia Numorum |contribution=Phoenicia |contribution-url=http://snible.org/coins/hn/syria.html |pages=788–801 |date=1911 |edition=2nd |location=Oxford |publisher=Clarendon Press |ref={{harvid|Head & al.|1911}}}}.
• {{citation |last=Kassir |first=Samir |author-link=Samir Kassir |title=Histoire de Beyrouth |publisher=Fayard |date=2003 |language=fr}}.
• {{citation |last=Kassir |first=Samir |title=Beirut |location=Berkeley |publisher=University of California Press |date=2010}}.
• {{citation |first=Philip |last=Mansel |title=Levant: Splendour and Catastrophe on the Mediterranean |location=London |publisher=John Murray |date=2010 |isbn=978-0-7195-6707-0}}.
• {{citation |first=Richard |last=Talbert |author-link=Richard Talbert |title=Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World |isbn=0-691-03169-X |page=69 |title-link=Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World |year=2000 |publisher=Princeton University Press}}.

{{Sister project links|voy=Beirut}}

• {{Wikiatlas|Lebanon}}
• [http://aleph.nli.org.il:80/F/?func=direct&doc_number=002370088&local_base=NNL01 Map of Beirut, 1936.], Eran Laor Cartographich Collection, The National Library of Israel, [http://historic-cities.huji.ac.il/lebanon/beirut/maps/tfl_1936_beirut_b.jpg Historic Cities Research Project.] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225085901/http://historic-cities.huji.ac.il/lebanon/beirut/maps/tfl_1936_beirut_b.jpg |date=25 February 2021 }}

{{Greater Beirut}}

{{Archaeological sites in Lebanon}}

{{Capitals of Arab countries}}

{{Arab Capital of Culture|nocat=yes}}

{{World Book Capital}}

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{{Roman Archaeological sites in Beirut & Lebanon}}

{{Mediterranean Games}}

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Category:Capitals in Asia

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Category:Mediterranean port cities and towns in Lebanon

Category:Populated coastal places in Lebanon

Category:Phoenician cities