Lebanese Republic
The Country of Lebanon

Lebanon (Arabic: لبنان Lubnān), officially the Lebanese Republic (Arabic: الجمهورية اللبنانية), is a small, largely mountainous country in the Middle East, located at the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea. It is bordered by Syria to the north and east, and Israel to the south. The flag of Lebanon features a cedar in green against a white backdrop, bounded by two horizontal red stripes along the top and bottom.

Due to its sectarian diversity, Lebanon follows a special political system, known as confessionalism, meant to distribute power as evenly as possible among different sects.

Until the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990), the country enjoyed relative calm and prosperity, driven by the tourism, agriculture, and banking sectors of the economy. It was considered the banking capital of the Arab world and was widely known as the "Switzerland of the Middle East" due to its financial power. Lebanon also attracted large numbers of tourists, to the point that the capital Beirut became widely referred to as the "Paris of the Middle East."

Immediately following the end of the war, there were extensive efforts to revive the economy and rebuild national infrastructure. By early 2006, a considerable degree of stability had been achieved throughout much of the country, Beirut's reconstruction was almost complete, and an increasing number of foreign tourists were pouring into Lebanon's resorts. However, the 2006 Lebanon War brought mounting civilian and military casualties, extensive damage to civilian infrastructure, and massive population displacement from July 12, 2006 until a ceasefire went into effect on August 14, 2006. As of September 2006, the Lebanese government has been implementing an early recovery plan aimed at reconstructing property destroyed by Israeli attacks in Beirut, Tyre, and other villages in southern Lebanon.

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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

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What News is making headlines in the Lebanese Republic?
AME Info | Lebanon | Latest News

AUB pathology professor appointed chair of WHO tobacco regulation study group

Lebanon: AUB professor Ghazi Zaatari, who chairs the pathology and laboratory medicine department, has been appointed at the chair of the World Health Organization (WHO) Study Group on Tobacco Product Regulation. [AMEInfo.com]

Among this year's 1800 AUB graduates, one stood out for his perseverance despite his disability

Lebanon: For Fawzi Yassin, who graduated this year with a degree in computer science, academic standards were not his only motivation for choosing to study at AUB-an accommodating attitude was a high priority.
[AMEInfo.com]

SKOUN, Lebanese addictions center launches the project 'A Greater Respect for Drug Addicts' Rights'

Lebanon: The number of people who are addicted to drugs is increasing every year in Lebanon. [AMEInfo.com]

Global Holidays inks GSA deal with Kayala Airlines

Lebanon: Global Holidays, a leading travel advisor based in Beirut, was appointed General Sales Agent (GSA) in Lebanon by Saudi luxury air carrier Kayala Airlines, a move aimed at meeting the special needs of VIPs and business people regularly flying the Saudi Arabia-Lebanon routes. [AMEInfo.com]

Global Holidays appointed GSA of NAS Air

Lebanon: Global Holidays, a leading travel advisor based in Beirut, has signed a General Sales Agent (GSA) agreement with Saudi carrier NAS Air to offer budget air travel between Saudi Arabia and Lebanon. [AMEInfo.com]