City of Beirut
Lebanese Republic

Beirut (Arabic: بيروت, transliteration: Bayrūt) is the capital, largest city, and chief seaport of Lebanon. It is sometimes referred to by its French name, Beyrouth. There are wide-ranging estimates of Beirut's population, from as low as 938,940 people, to 1,303,129 people, to as high as 2,012,000. The lack of an exact figure is due to the fact that no "comprehensive" population census has been taken in Lebanon since 1932.

Beirut had undergone major reconstruction in recent years and has hosted the Francophonie and the Arab League summits in 2002. In 2007, Beirut hosted the ceremony for Le Prix Albert Londres, which rewards outstanding Francophone journalists every year. The city is set to host the Jeux de la Francophonie in 2009.

Beirut was considered as a possible candidate for the 2024 Summer Olympics games. The massive $1.2 billion Sannine Zenith project will make Lebanon capable of holding the games.

The city is home to numerous international organizations. The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) is headquartered in Downtown Beirut while the International Labour Organization (ILO) and UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) both have regional offices in Beirut covering the Arab world. The Arab Air Carriers Organization (AACO) is also headquartered in Beirut.

In Travel and Leisure magazine's 'World Best Awards 2006', Beirut was ranked the 9th (out of 10) city in the world, falling just short of New York City and coming ahead of San Francisco.

The Dubai Expat Diaries

Latest Posts from: The Dubai Expat Diaries: The Dubai Expat Diaries is an online expatriate journal for expats moving to, living and working in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates

Atlantis Burning - The great fire of 2008, Palm Jumeirah

Some photos sent to us by a reader of the fire today. Dubai was abuzz with the news of a fire breaking out at the famed Atlantis Hotel, which is set to open this month. Sure enough, the smoke was visible from afar from very early in the morning and radio announcers frantic. A couple [...]

Tiger Woods at The Westin Dubai Hotel

Some exclusive photos of TIger Wood’s visit to The Westin Dubai Hotel today to launch his new project with Tatweer… The Tiger Woods Dubai, a member of Tatweer, is a private residential community and resort that will include the world’s first golf course designed by Tiger Woods - Al Ruwaya. More photos can be found here

Things to consider when moving to Dubai for a job

Some great tips from a Director of Human Resources for people considering moving to Dubai to take up a job. The video is from the hotel industry but the information is quite valid for most industries and countries here in the Middle East…watch the short of the long version below. Long version: Short version:

A video to inspire - the power of people in 42 countries with Matt

Watch Matt do this thing - he spent 14 months, visited 42 countries and involved thousands of people around the globe (including Bahrain!) in this effort. Truly inspirational and worth sharing with the world…have a fantastic day! Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.

Dubai Property Prices expected to plunge by 2010

Experts from Investment Bank Morgan Stanley claim that research indicates the new flood of apartments to hit Dubai may cause prices to plunge by upto 10% by as early as 2010. The National also included this in it’s news report: Dubai property prices have soared 79 per cent since January last year, fuelled by a growing population [...]

What News is making headlines in the Lebanese Republic?
Lebanon News latest RSS headlines - Big News Network.com

Hizbullah Open to Al-Mustaqbal, Ready for Non-conditional Dialogue

Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah on Sunday renewed his call for holding the national dialogue the soonest possible, stressing his openness to al-Mustaqbal Movement and all Sunnis in Lebanon.

Hizbullah, FPM Deny Aoun, Bassil Spent a Night at Beirut

Free Patriotic Movement MP Michel Aoun and Communications Minister MP Jubran Bassil reportedly spent the night prior to their last France trip at a Hizbullah official home in the southern suburbs in B...

Lebanese hold reconciliation talks in volatile city

By Marc FrankHAVANA (Reuters) - Dangerous Hurricane Ike roared toward Cuba with 135 mph (215 kph) winds on Sunday and was expected to sweep into the Gulf of Mexico where it could threaten the U.S. oil...

Making Peace with Israel Rescues Syria form Hariri Tribunal

Mount Lebanon Mufti sheikh Mohammed Ali Jouzou on Sunday attacked Syrian President Bashar Assad for saying that the Lebanon situation remains fragile because certain states back fundamentalism.

Israel Seizes Heroin Near Lebanon border

In a joint operation targeting a local smuggling network, army and police forces seized around 55 kilos (120 pounds) of heroin and 650,000 dollars (450,000 euros) in cash, Israeli police spokesman Era...

Hezbollah using Facebook to kidnap Israeli soldiers

Beirut - A new report in the Middle East confirms Hezbollah has begun using the online social network Facebook to learn more about Israel's military bases and soldiers, who are potential kidnapping ta...

Sfeir Calls for Solidarity to Safeguard Lebanon against Catastrophes

Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir on Sunday called for solidarity among the various factions to safeguard Lebanon against catastrophes that could happen.

Syria for Sunni-Shiite conflict to intervene in Lebanon

Beirut- Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt warned that breaking out of a Sunni-Shiite conflict would provide Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime with a "pretext to intervene in Leban...

Hariri Meets Eid in Sunni-Alawite Reconciliation Initiative

Mustaqbal Movement leader Saad Hariri, on a mission to reconcile between Sunnis and Alawites in north Lebanon's city of Tripoli, met early Sunday head of the Arab Democratic Party Ali Eid.

UN chief to demand Israel pay Lebanon $1 billion in reparations

Beirut- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will demand that Israel pay Lebanon $1 billion in compensation for damages caused during Israel's 2006 war against Hezbollah , according to reports by 2 Israel...