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Coordinates: 33°53′13″N 35°30′47″E / 33.88694°N 35.51306°E / 33.88694; 35.51306
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This article is about the Lebanese city. For other uses, see Beirut (disambiguation).

33°53′13″N 35°30′47″E / 33.88694°N 35.51306°E / 33.88694; 35.51306

Beirut
بيروت Bayrūt
Beyrouth (French)
File:Beirut.png
Official seal of Beirut
Seal
CountryLebanon
GovernorateBeirut, Capital City
Government
 • MayorBilal Hamad
Area
 • City20 km2 (8 sq mi)
 • Urban
100 km2 (40 sq mi)
 • Metro
200 km2 (80 sq mi)
Population
 • City750,000
 • Urban
1,900,000
 • Metro
2,250,000 ~ 3,000,000
Time zone+2
 • Summer (DST)+3
WebsiteCity of Beirut

Beirut (Arabic: بيروت Bayrūt, French: Beyrouth) is the capital and largest city of Lebanon with a population ranging from some 1 million to more than 2 million as of 2007. Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's coastline with the Mediterranean, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan Area, which consists of the city and its suburbs. The first mention of this metropolis is found in the ancient Egyptian Tell el Amarna letters, dating to the 15th century BC, and the city has been continuously inhabited since.

Beirut holds Lebanon's seat of government, and plays a central role in the Lebanese economy with its city centre, Hamra, Verdun, and Ashrafieh-based corporate firms and banks. The city is the focal point of the region's cultural life, renowned for its press, theatres, cultural activities, and nightlife. After the destructive Lebanese civil war, Beirut underwent major reconstruction,[1][2][3] and the redesigned historic city centre, marina, pubs and nightlife districts have once again rendered it a tourist attraction. Beirut was named the top place to visit in 2009 by The New York Times.[4] It was also listed as one of the ten liveliest cities in the world by Lonely Planet in 2009.[5]

In 2011, MasterCard Index revealed that Beirut has the second highest visiting spending levels in the Middle East and Africa. Dubai came in first with $7.8 billion, followed by Beirut with $6.5 billion, Tel Aviv with $3.8 billion, Cairo at $3.7 billion and Johannesburg with $3.3 billion. At the same time it was listed as the ninth most visited and as such it's still considered a "high-end" destination.

History

Beirut's history goes back more than 5000 years.[6] According to the Britannica Encyclopedia, the antiquity of Beirut is indicated by its name, derived from the Canaanite name of Be'erot (wells), referring to the underground water table that is still tapped by the local inhabitants for general use.[7][8] Excavations in the downtown area have unearthed layers of Phoenician, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Crusader and Ottoman remains.[9] The first historical reference to Beirut dates from the 14th century BC, when it is mentioned in the cuneiform[8] tablets of the "Amarna letters". Ammunira of Biruta[10] (Beirut) sent three letters to the pharaoh of Egypt.[11] Biruta is also referenced in the letters from Rib-Hadda of Byblos. The most ancient settlement was on an island in the river that progressively silted up. The city was known in antiquity as Berytus, this name was taken in 1934 for the archaeological journal published by the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at the American University of Beirut.[12]

Hellenistic/Roman period

In 140 BC the city was destroyed by Diodotus Tryphon in his contest with Antiochus VII Sidetes for the throne of the Seleucid monarchy. Beirut was soon rebuilt on a more regularized Hellenistic plan, renamed Laodicea in Phoenicia (Greek: Λαοδικεια ή του Φοινίκη) or Laodicea in Canaan, in honor of a Seleucid Laodice. The modern city overlies the ancient one and little archaeology had been accomplished until after the end of the civil war in 1991; now large sites in the devastated city center have been opened to archaeological exploration. A dig in 1994 established that one of Beirut's modern streets, Souk Tawile, still follows the lines of an ancient Hellenistic and Roman one.

Mid-first century coins of Berytus bear the head of Tyche, goddess of fortune; on the reverse, the city's symbol appears: a dolphin entwines an anchor. This symbol was taken up by the early printer Aldus Manutius in 15th century Venice. Beirut was conquered by Agrippa in 64 BC and the city was renamed in honor of the emperor's daughter, Julia; its full name became Colonia Julia Augusta Felix Berytus.[13][14][15] The veterans of two Roman legions were established in the city: the fifth Macedonian and the third Gallic. The city quickly became Romanized. Large public buildings and monuments were erected and Berytus enjoyed full status as a part of the empire.[13]

Under the Romans, it was enriched by the dynasty of Herod the Great, and was made a colonia, Colonia Iulia Augusta Felix Berytus, in 14 BC. Beirut's school of law was widely known at the time.[16] Two of Rome's most famous jurists, Papinian and Ulpian, both natives of Phoenicia, taught at the law school under the Severan emperors. When Justinian assembled his Pandects in the 6th century, a large part of the corpus of laws were derived from these two jurists, and Justinian recognized the school as one of the three official law schools of the empire (533). Within a few years, as the result of a disastrous earthquake (551),[8][13][17] the students were transferred to Sidon.[18] About 30,000 were killed in Berytus alone and, along the Phoenician coast, total casualties were close to 250,000.[14]

View of Beirut with snow-capped Mount Sannine in the background – 19th century

Middle Ages

Beirut passed to Arabs in 635.[14][19] It was ruled by the Arslan (Turkish meaning "Lion") family (Arab origin from Yemen, relatives through marriage, descendants of the Lakhmids[citation needed]) for 477 years (635–1110)[citation needed]. "Prince Arslan bin al-Mundhir" founded the Principality of Sin-el-Fil in 759 AD in Beirut. This Principality was the base of the afterwards "Principality of Mount Lebanon" who was the base of the establishment of "Greater Lebanon" (Lebanon today).[citation needed] As a trading centre of the eastern Mediterranean, Beirut was overshadowed by Akka during the Middle Ages. From 1110 to 1291 it was in the hands of the Crusaders Kingdom of Jerusalem. John of Ibelin, the Old Lord of Beirut (1179–1236) rebuilt the city after the battles with Saladin, and also built the Ibelin family palace in Beirut.[19]

Ottoman rule

Beirut was controlled by local Druze emirs throughout the Ottoman period.[20] One of these, Fakr ed-Din Maan II, fortified it early in the 17th century,[21] but the Ottomans retook it in 1763.[21] With the help of Damascus, Beirut successfully broke Akka's monopoly on Syrian maritime trade and for a few years supplanted it as the main trading centre in the region. During the succeeding epoch of rebellion against Ottoman hegemony at Akka under Jezzar and Abdullah pashas, Beirut declined to a small town (population about 10,000), and was an object of contention between the Ottomans, the local Druze, and the Mamluks. After Ibrahim Pasha captured Akka in 1832,[22] Beirut began its revival.

View of Beirut's Grand Serail- circa 1930

By the second half of the nineteenth century, Beirut was in the process of developing close commercial and political ties with European imperial powers, France in particular. European interests in Lebanese silk and other export products transformed the city into a major port and commercial centre. 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.[23] This in turn altered the ethnic composition of Beirut itself, sowing the seeds of future ethnic 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.[24]

In 1888, Beirut was made capital of a vilayet in Syria,[25] including the sanjaks Latakia, Tripoli, Beirut, Akka and Bekaa.[26] By this time, Beirut had grown into a very cosmopolitan city, and had close links with Europe and the United States. Beirut also became a centre of missionary activity that spawned impressive 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 harbor (1894) and a rail link across Lebanon to Damascus, and then to Aleppo (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. In 1911, the population mix was reported in the Encyclopædia Britannica as Muslims, 36,000; Christians, 77,000; Jews, 2500; Druze, 400; foreigners, 4100.

An aerial panoramic view of Beirut sometime in the last third of the 19th century

Modern era

The Green Line that separated west and east Beirut, 1982

After the collapse of the Ottoman Empire following World War I Beirut, along with the rest of Lebanon, was placed under the French Mandate. After Lebanon achieved independence in 1943, Beirut became its capital city. The city remained a regional intellectual capital, becoming a major tourist destination, and a banking haven especially for the Persian Gulf Oil Boom. This era of relative prosperity ended in 1975 when the Lebanese Civil War broke out throughout the country.[27][28] During most of the war, Beirut was divided between a Muslim west part and the Christian east.[29] The downtown area, previously the home of much of the city's commercial and cultural activities, 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. One particularly destructive period was the 1978 Syrian siege against Achrafiyeh, the main Christian district of Beirut. Syrian troops relentlessly bombed the eastern quarter of the city, whereby Christian militias managed to counter and defeat multiple attempts by Syria's elite forces to capture the strategic area, in a three months campaign later known as the "100 days war." Another destructive chapter was the 1982 Israeli invasion, during which most of West Beirut was under siege by Israeli troops. In 1983, French and US barracks were bombed by Hezbollah, killing 241 American servicemen, 58 French servicemen, 6 civilians and the 2 suicide bombers.[30][31][32]

Since the end of the war in 1990, the people of Lebanon have been rebuilding Beirut, and 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, as well as a centre for commerce, fashion, and media. Reconstruction of downtown Beirut has been largely driven by Solidere, a development company established in 1994 by Rafik Hariri. Beirut is home to the international designer Elie Saab, jeweller Robert Moawad, and to some popular satellite television stations, such as Future TV, New TV and others. The city was host to the Asian Club Basketball Championship and the Asian Football Cup. Beirut also successfully hosted the Miss Europe pageant eight times, 1960–1964, 1999, 2001–2002.

The 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri near the Saint George Bay in Beirut shook the entire country.[33][34] Approximately one million people gathered for an opposition rally in Beirut, a month after the death of Hariri.[35][36] The "Cedar Revolution" was the largest rally in Lebanon's history at that time.[37] The last Syrian troops withdrew from Beirut on 26 April 2005.[38] The two countries established diplomatic relations on 15 October 2008.[39] During the 2006 Lebanon War, however, Israeli bombardments seeking Hezbollah targets resulted in damage in many parts of Beirut, especially the poorer and largely Shiite South Beirut, which is controlled by Hezbollah. In May 2008, violent clashes broke out in Beirut, after the government decided to disband Hezbollah's network of communications (which it later rescinded), between the government allies that were relocated in the capital and the forces of the opposition briefly before handing it over to the control of the Lebanese Army.

Modern Beirut by night

In the aftermath of these events, all clashing parties travelled to the Qatari capital, Doha, in a national dialogue conference after an invitation from the prince of the country. On the conclusion of the meeting, many decisions were reached, the appointment of a new president of the country, and the establishment of a new national government with all the political adversaries involved. As a result the opposition's camp in the capital was removed, something underlined in the Doha Agreement.

Geography

Pigeons' Rock (Raouché)
Beirut seen from SPOT satellite

Beirut is positioned on a peninsula extending westward into the Mediterranean Sea,[40] about 94 km (58 mi) north of the Lebanon-Israel border.[41] The city is flanked by the Lebanon mountains; it has taken on a triangular shape, largely influenced by its situation between and atop two hills: Al-Ashrafieh and Al-Musaytibah. The Beirut Governorate area is of 18 square kilometres (6.9 sq mi), and the city's metropolitan area is of 67 square kilometres (26 sq mi).[40] Beirut's coast is rather diverse; rocky beaches, sandy shores, and cliffs are situated beside one another.

Climate

Beirut has a Mediterranean climate characterized by a hot, dry summer, a pleasant autumn and spring, and a cool, rainy winter. August is the hottest month, with a monthly average high temperature of 30.0 °C (84 °F), and January is the coldest month with a monthly average low temperature of 9.6 °C (50 °F). During the afternoon and evening, the prevailing wind direction is from the west, i.e., onshore, or inland from the Mediterranean Sea; at night the wind direction reverses to offshore, i.e., blowing from the land out to the sea.

The average annual rainfall is 860 millimetres (34.1 inches), virtually all of which falls in winter, autumn and spring. Much of the rain in autumn and spring falls on a limited number of days in heavy downpours. In winter, however, the rain is more evenly spread over a large number of days. Summer receives very little (if any) rainfall. Snow in Beirut is rare and usually occurs without accumulation. However, hail and sleet can occur quite frequently in winter. Exceptions are 3 big snowstorms that occurred in 1920, 1942 and 1950.

Climate data for Beirut
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 16.8
(62.2) 		17.3
(63.1) 		19.2
(66.6) 		22.4
(72.3) 		24.7
(76.5) 		27.1
(80.8) 		29.3
(84.7) 		30.0
(86.0) 		29.1
(84.4) 		26.6
(79.9) 		22.5
(72.5) 		18.4
(65.1) 		23.6
(74.5)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 9.6
(49.3) 		9.8
(49.6) 		11.2
(52.2) 		14.0
(57.2) 		16.6
(61.9) 		19.8
(67.6) 		22.3
(72.1) 		23.1
(73.6) 		22.1
(71.8) 		18.9
(66.0) 		14.7
(58.5) 		11.2
(52.2) 		16.0
(60.8)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 190.9
(7.52) 		133.4
(5.25) 		110.8
(4.36) 		46.3
(1.82) 		15.0
(0.59) 		1.5
(0.06) 		0.3
(0.01) 		0.4
(0.02) 		2.3
(0.09) 		60.2
(2.37) 		100.6
(3.96) 		163.8
(6.45) 		825.5
(32.50)
Average rainy days 17 15 10 8 4 1 0 0 2 7 10 13 87
Source 1: [42]
Source 2: World Meteorological Organisation (UN)[43]

Quarters and sectors

Map of the 12 quarters of Beirut

Beirut is divided into 12 municipality recognized quarters (quartiers):[44]

These quarters are divided into sectors (secteurs).[45]

Three of the 12 official Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon are located in Beirut: Burj el-Barajneh, Shatila and Mar Elias refugee camp, all located in the south of the city.[46] Of the fifteen unregistered or unofficial refugee camps, Sabra, which lies adjacent to Shatila, is also located in Beirut.[47]

Interactive Panorama

Demographics

There are wide-ranging estimates of Beirut's population, from as low as 938,940 people,[48] to 1,303,129 people,[49] to as high as 2,012,000.[50] The lack of an exact figure is due to the fact that no population census has been taken in Lebanon since 1932.[51]

Mohammad al-Amin mosque and Saint George Maronite Cathedral sit side by side in Beirut's central district

Beirut is the most religiously diverse city of Lebanon and all of the Middle East,[52] with a significant presence of both Christians and Muslims. There are nine major religious communities in Beirut (Maronite Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Greek Catholic, Armenian Apostolic, Armenian Catholic, Protestant, Sunni Muslim, Shiite Muslim, Druze). Family matters such as marriage, divorce and inheritance are still handled by the religious authorities representing a person's faith (the "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. Until the mid-20th century, Beirut was also home to a Jewish community in the Wadi Abu Jamil neighbourhood in the Bab Idriss sector of Zokak el-Blat. See History of the Jews in Lebanon. According to the 2009 Lebanese general elections, a total of 435,462 people voted in Beirut, of them 192,910 (45%) were Sunni Muslims, 60,202 (14%) were Shia Muslims, 46,744 (11%) were Armenian Orthodox, 42,728 (10%) were Greek Orthodox, 24,800 (6%) were Maronite Catholics, 18,923 (4%) were Greek Catholics, 9,623 (2%) were Armenian Catholics, 6,883 (1%) were Protestant, 5,374 (1%) were Jews, 5,251 (1%) were Druze, 218 were Alawis, and 21,806 were Other Christians. A total of 258,581 (60%) were Muslims, 171,507 (39%) were Christians, and 5,374 (1%) were Jews. It is important to remember that, in accordance with the electoral system in place in Lebanon, voters tend to be registered within the constituency where their (paternal) ancestors were registered at the time of the last Lebanese census (1932), which is not necessarily where the voters physically reside. Transferring legal residence for the purposes of the electoral rolls is not a straightforward process in Lebanon.[53] Thus, a demographic breakdown of voters in Beirut is not necessarily indicative of those actually resident.

In East Beirut 91,622 people voted.Of them 83,331(90%) were Christians and 8,238(10%) were Muslims.Also 53 Jews voted.Greek Orthodox were 23,955(27%), Maronite Catholics were 15,642(17%), Armenian Orthodox were 15,059(17%), Greek Catholics were 11,843(12%), Other Christians were 9,991(10%), Sunni Muslims were 6029(7%), Armenian Catholics were 4,837(5%),Protestants were 2,004(2%) and Shia Muslims were 1,777(2%).

In Beirut Central District the total population was 98,868 of which 54,237(55%) were Muslims and 44,159(45%) were Christians and 472 Jews.Sunni Muslims were 29,291(30%), Armenian Orthodox were 26,757(27%), Shia Muslims were 24,780(25%), Maronite Catholics were 3,640(4%), Armenian Catholics were 3,578(4%), Other Christians were 3,528(4%), Greek Orthodox were 2,484(2%),Protestants were 2,285(2%) and Greek Catholics were 1,887(2%).

In West Beirut 244,956 people voted.196,106(82%) were Muslims and 44,001(18%) were Christians.Also 4,849 Jews voted.Sunni Muslims were 157,590(65%), Shia Muslims were 33,645(14%), Greek Orthodox were 16,289(6%), Other Christians were 8,287(3%), Maronite Catholics were 5,518(2%), Greek Catholics were 5,187(2%), Armenian Orthodox were 4,928(2%), Druze were 4,798(2%),Protestants were 2,584(2%) and Armenian Catholics were 1,208(1%).

Before the civil war the neighborhoods of Beirut were fairly heterogeneous, but they have become largely segregated by religion since the conflict. East Beirut is characterized by a largely Christian population, with a small Sunni Muslim minority. Meanwhile, West Beirut is categorized by a Sunni Muslim majority with small minorities of Christians and Druze. Since the end of the civil war, East and West Beirut have begun to see an increase in Sunni Muslims and Christians moving into each half. Beirut's southern suburbs are largely populated by Shi'ite Muslims, while Beirut's Eastern suburbs are largely Christian. Northern Beirut has had and continues to have a large Lebanese Protestant community since the 19th century.

Economy

Cafés in downtown Beirut

The economy of Beirut is diverse, ranging from publishing, banking, trade to a diverse industry. From the 1950s to the start of the conflict in 1975, 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.[54] Middle East Airlines has its head office in Beirut.[55] In addition, the Banque du Liban, the central bank of Lebanon, is headquartered in Beirut.[56]

Government

The capital Beirut is the seat of the Lebanese Parliament[57] and of the government,[58] and encompasses all the Ministries, most of the public administrations, embassies and consulates.[59] Beirut is one of six mohafazat (state governorates; mohafazah, singular), with the others being Beqaa, North Lebanon, South Lebanon, Mount Lebanon and Nabatiye.[60]

Facade of the Beirut City Hall
The Grand Serail
Lebanese Parliament
United Nations Lebanon headquarters in Beirut.
Governors of Beirut[61]
Name Took office Left office
1 Kamel Abbas Hamieh 1936 1941
2 Nicolas Rizk 1946 1952
3 George Assi 1952 1956
4 Bachour Haddad 1956 1958
5 Philip Boulos 1959 1960
6 Emile Yanni 1960 1967
7 Chafik Abou Haydar 1967 1977
8 Mitri El Nammar 1977 1987
9 George Smaha 1987 1991
10 Nayef Al Maaloof 1992 1995
11 Nicolas Saba 1995 1999
12 Yaacoub Sarraf 1999 2005
13 Nassif Kaloosh 2005

International organizations

The city is home to numerous international organizations. The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) is headquartered in Downtown Beirut[62][63] while the International Labour Organization (ILO)[64] and UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)[65] both have regional offices in Beirut covering the Arab world. The Arab Air Carriers Organization (AACO),[66] the Union of Arab Banks[67] and the Union of Arab Stock Exchanges[68] are also headquartered in Beirut.

Education

The museum of the American University of Beirut

Higher education in Beirut, and all over Lebanon, is provided by technical and vocational institutes, university colleges, university institutes and universities. Among these numbers of institutions nationwide, the Lebanese University is the only public institution in the capital.[69] The responsibility of the Directorate General of Higher Education is responsible for managing the university colleges, university Institutes and Universities in Beirut and nationwide.[69]

Among the private schools in Beirut are the American Community School, the Collège Notre-Dame de Jamhour, International College, Beirut, the Carmel Saint-Joseph, the Collège Louise Wegmann, Rawdah High School, the Saint Mary's Orthodox College,[70] the Collège Protestant Français, the Lycée Franco-Libanais Verdun, the Collège du Sacré-Coeur Gemmayzé, the Grand Lycée Franco-Libanais, the Collège Notre Dame de Nazareth, the Armenian Evangelical Central High School and the German School of Beirut.

The higher education system is based on the Lebanese Baccalaureate but the French Baccalaureate is accepted as an equivalent. Before being admitted to any higher education institution, one must achieve his or her Baccalaureate examinations. Baccalaureate technique is an alternative to credentials.[69]

Foreign students who wish to study in higher Lebanese institutions must also meet Lebanese qualifications. Their examinations must be equivalent to the Baccalaureate system before they are granted admission to higher institutions. They are not subject to any special quota system, and scholarships are granted within the framework of bilateral agreements concluded with other countries.[69] Degrees obtained outside Lebanon must be certified by the Lebanese embassy abroad and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Lebanon. Then, candidates must go in person to the Secretariat of the Equivalence Committee with required documents.[71]

Haigazian University

The American University of Beirut is the oldest university in the country and the region. In 1862 American missionaries in Lebanon and Syria, under the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, asked Dr. Daniel Bliss to establish a college of higher learning that would include medical training. On April 24, 1863, while Dr. Daniel Bliss was raising money for the new college in the United States and England, the State of New York granted a charter for the Syrian Protestant College. The college, which was renamed the American University of Beirut in 1920, opened with a class of 16 students on December 3, 1866. Dr. Bliss served as its first president, from 1866 until 1902. The American University of Beirut (AUB) has been accredited as an institution since 2004 by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, Tel. 267-284-5000). AUB’s accreditation was most recently reaffirmed in June 2009, after the completion of an extensive self-study that was reviewed by educational experts chosen in consultation with Middle States. The University’s next full accreditation cycle is due in 2018–19. Over the last several years, a number of University programs and faculties have also sought accreditation with more specialized bodies. The Faculty of Health Sciences’ Graduate Public Health program became the first such program to be accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) outside of North America. Similarly, the Rafic Hariri School of Nursing became the first nursing school beyond American territories to have BSN and MSN programs accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). In April 2009, undergraduate and graduate programs at the Suliman S. Olayan School of Business were accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). Most recently, in July 2010, four undergraduate Engineering programs at AUB’s Faculty of Engineering and Architecture were accredited by ABET Inc. (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology). In general, the accreditation process is intended to strengthen and sustain the quality and integrity of a university, faculty, or program, confirming that it is worthy of public confidence. AUB has been registered with and recognized by the New York State Education Department (NYSED) since 1863. Its degrees are recognized by the Lebanese government through the equivalence committees of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education.

Beirut is home to the Lebanese American University which is Chartered by the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York and fully accredited by the NEASC.[72][73][74] LAU also offers the only PharmD program outside the US that is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as well as an architecture degree equivalent to the French DEA allowing graduates to practice in the European Union, and is in the process of securing ABET and European accreditation for the School of Engineering with all its programs.[75][76] Other universities in Beirut include the University of Balamand (Faculty of Health Sciences), Université Saint-Joseph, and École Supérieure des Affaires (business school).

Transportation

Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport

The city's renovated airport is the Rafic Hariri International Airport and is located in the southern suburbs.Turkish Airlines operates daily 3 flights between Istanbul and Beirut and Vice Versa .[77] By land, the latter are served by either service taxi or taxicab. Service taxis are cheaper than normal taxis, but to avoid misunderstandings, an agreement over pricing needs to be made before setting off.[78]

Beirut has frequent bus connections to other cities in Lebanon and major cities in Syria. The Lebanese Commuting Company, or LCC in short, is just one of a handful brands of public transportation all over Lebanon.[79] On the other hand, the publicly owned buses are managed by Office des Chemins de Fer et des Transports en Commun (OCFTC), or the "Railway and Public Transportation Authority" in English. Buses for northern destinations and Syria leave from Charles Helou Station.[80]

Apart from the international airport, the Port of Beirut is another port of entry. As a final destination, Lebanon can be reached by ferry from Cyprus or by road from Damascus.[78]

Culture

The culture of Beirut has evolved under the influence of many different peoples and civilizations, such as Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Ottoman Turks and French, among others. 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. All in all, the ruins of downtown Beirut have been found to contain seven layers of civilization. This history of cosmopolitanism is a point of pride for many Lebanese.[81]

Beirut hosted the Francophonie and the Arab League summits in 2002. In 2007, Beirut hosted the ceremony for Le Prix Albert Londres,[82][83] which rewards outstanding francophone journalists every year. The city also hosted the Jeux de la Francophonie in 2009.[84][85] In 2009, Beirut was proclaimed World Capital of the Book by UNESCO.[86]

Beirut has also been called the "party capital of the Arab world".[87] Monot Street had an international reputation among clubbers before political violence stymied its reputation.[88] However new districts such as Gemmayze and Mar Mikhael have emerged as new hotspots for bar patrons and clubbers.

Museums

The National Museum of Beirut

The National Museum of Beirut is the principal museum of archaeology in Lebanon. About 1,300 artifacts are exhibited, ranging in date from prehistoric times to the medieval Mamluk period.[89] The American University of Beirut (AUB) archaeological museum is the third oldest museum in the Middle East, exhibiting a wide range of artifacts from Lebanon and neighboring countries.[90] Sursock Museum was built by the Sursock family at the end of the 19th century as a private villa. It was then donated to the Lebanese state and now houses Beirut's most influential and popular art museum. The permanent collection shows a collection of Japanese engravings and numerous works of Islamic art, and temporary exhibitions are shown throughout the year. Robert Mouawad Private Museum exhibits Henri Pharaon's private archaeology and antiques collection, located near Beirut's the Grand Serail.[91] Planet Discovery is a children’s science museum with interactive experiments, exhibitions, performances and workshops and awareness competitions.[92] 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.[93]

Media

Beirut is the main center in Lebanon for the television, newspaper, and book publishing industries. The television stations include Tele Liban, LBC, Future TV, OTV (Orange TV), MTV , New TV, Al-Manar, ANB, and NBN. The newspapers include An-Nahar, As-Safir, Al Mustaqbal, Al Akhbar, Al-Balad, Ad-Diyar, Al Anwar, Al Sharq, L'Orient Le Jour and the Daily Star. Beirut is one of the main media hubs in the Arab world, the others being Cairo, Dubai, and Manamah.

Sports

Beirut, in addition to Sidon and Tripoli, hosted the 2000 AFC Asian Cup.[94][95] 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 four teams playing in the Lebanese Basketball League div. 1 are located in Beirut. Best two teams in Lebanese Basketball history : Sagesse and Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut in addition of Hoops Club and Antranik SC.

Other sports events in Beirut include the annual Beirut Marathon, Hip ball, a weekly horse racing at Beirut Hippodrome, and golf and tennis tournaments that take place at Golf Club of Lebanon.

Recently Beirut has taken to rugby league as well, with three out of the five teams in the Lebanon Championship based in Beirut.

Arts and fashion

There are hundreds of art galleries in Beirut and its suburbs. Lebanese people are very involved in art and art production. More than 5000 fine art artists and equal artists working in music, design, architecture, theatre, film, photography and other forms of art are producing in Lebanon. Every year hundreds of fine art students graduate from universities and institutions. Artist workshops exist all over Lebanon. Recently, the inauguration of the Beirut Art Center in the Jisr El Wati district of Beirut added to the number of exhibition spaces available in Beirut, with an addition of a screening and performance room, mediatheque, bookstore, cafe and terrace. On another scale, fashion and couture are thriving. Fashion houses are opening up and a number of international fashion designers have displayed their work in various fashion shows.[96][97] Most major fashion labels have shops in Beirut, but the city is also home to a number of local fashion designers, some of whom have reached international fame and success. These include Elie Saab, Zuhair Mrad, Jean Faris, and Abed Mahfouz.[96]

Tourism

Beirut is a destination for tourists from both the Arab world and West.[98] The once destroyed city centre is thriving once again. Its former reputation as a crossroads between three continents and gateway to the East has been restored. Beirut is one of several so called “Paris[es] of the East”,[99] and there is plenty of sightseeing, shopping, cuisine, and nightlife to keep a tourist within the city limits.[100][failed verification] The city has sleek, modern buildings alongside arabesque Ottoman buildings, giving Beirut a unique and distinctive style often not seen in other Middle Eastern cities.[101]

In Travel + Leisure magazine's World Best Awards 2006, Beirut was ranked 9th best city in the world.[102] However, the list was voted upon before the war broke out in Lebanon that same year. Recently, Lonely Planet named Beirut as ranking in its 2009 top ten liveliest cities on the planet. The New York Times ranked Beirut as the number one place to go in 2009 on its "44 places to go" list of 2009.[4] Many of the tourists are returning Lebanese expatriates, but many are also from Western countries. Approximately 4.6 million visitors are expected to visit in 2010; the previous record was 1.4 million in 1974.[103]

International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Lebanon

Twin towns – Sister cities

Beirut is twinned with:

See also

References

Bibliography

Notes

  1. ^ Reconstruction of Beirut, Macalester College
  2. ^ Lebanon's Reconstruction: A Work in Progress, VOA News
  3. ^ Beirut: Between Memory and Desire, Worldview
  4. ^ a b Wise, Zach; Meek/, Miki (2009-01-11). "The 44 Places to Go in 2009 – Interactive Graphic". The New York Times. Beirut (Lebanon);Washington (DC);Galapagos 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);Reykjavik (Iceland);Red Sea;Egypt;Deauville (France);South Africa;India;Kazakhstan;Buffalo (NY);Madagascar;Tasmania (Australia);Stockholm (Sweden);Alaska;Pennsylvania;Zambia. Retrieved 2009-05-05.
  5. ^ "Beirut Travel Information and Travel Guide — Lebanon". Lonely Planet. 2009-03-24. Retrieved 2009-05-05.
  6. ^ Under Beirut's Rubble, Remnants of 5,000 Years of Civilization– NYTimes February 23, 1997
  7. ^ The new encyclopedia Britannica (1993) volume 14, macropaedia, 15th edition, encyclopedia Britannica Inc.
  8. ^ a b c Profile of Lebanon: History Lebanese Embassy of the U.S.
  9. ^ Research Projects – History and Archeology, American University of Beirut (AUB)
  10. ^ Phoenicia in Encyclopaedia Biblica, Case Western Reserve University
  11. ^ Phoenicia, Jrank.org
  12. ^ Berytus Archeological Studies, American University of Beirut (AUB)
  13. ^ a b c About Beirut and Downtown Beirut, DownTownBeirut.com. Retrieved November 17, 2007.
  14. ^ a b c Beirut Travel Information[dead link], Lonely Planet
  15. ^ Czech excavations in Beirut, Martyrs' Square, Institute for Classical Archaeology>
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  18. ^ "Saida (Sidon)". Ikamalebanon.com. Retrieved 2009-05-05.
  19. ^ a b Beirut, Britannica.com
  20. ^ Druze History, DHF Druze Heritage Foundation
  21. ^ a b Beirut, Jrank.org
  22. ^ Corpus Inscriptionum Arabicarum Palaestinae, by Moshe Sharon
  23. ^ Fawaz, Leila. "The City and the Mountain", 'International Journal of Middle East Studies' 16 no. 4 (Nov. 1984), 493.
  24. ^ Fawaz, Leila. "The City and the Mountain", 'International Journal of Middle East Studies' 16 no. 4 (Nov. 1984), 490.
  25. ^ Modern Beirut, Macalester College
  26. ^ An Alternate Alternative History, Foreign Policy
  27. ^ Dancing in the street, The Independent
  28. ^ Lebanon (Civil War 1975–1992, Global Security
  29. ^ Terrorism – Terrorist Attacks Chronology, CDI Terrorism Project
  30. ^ Frontline: Target America: Terrorist Attacks on Americans, 1979–1988, PBS.org
  31. ^ Historical Fact: Bombing of marine barracks, October 23, 1983, lebaneseforces.com
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  33. ^ Watch – The Cedar Revolution, The Winds of Change. Retrieved November 19, 2007.
  34. ^ 'Record' protest held in Beirut, BBC News
  35. ^ From Hopeful To Helpless At a Protest In Lebanon, Washingtonpost.com
  36. ^ Hariri sister calls for justice, CNN International
  37. ^ On This Day – 26 April, BBC.co.uk
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  45. ^ Southern suburbal districts include: Chiyah, Ghobeiry, Haret Hreik, Laylake, Tahouitat al Ghadir, Hay al Sillum and formerly Hadath. Eastern suburbs include: Burj Hammoud, Sin el Fil, Dekouane and Mkalles. Hazmiyah is now recognised as an independent municipality. "Lebanon refugee camp profiles". UNRWA. 31 December 2006. Retrieved 2008-04-18.
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  47. ^ "United Nations: "Demographic Yearbook 2003", page 53, 2003" (PDF). Retrieved 2010-01-17.
  48. ^ Lebanese Ministry of Environment: "Lebanon State of the Environment Report", Chapter 1, page 11, 2001.[dead link]
  49. ^ "Encyclopedia of the Nations". Nationsencyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2010-01-17.
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  51. ^ At Beirut Protest, a Reminder of Religious Diversity, The New York Times. Retrieved November 17, 2007.
  52. ^ www.ifes.org/~/media/Files/.../IFES_briefing_paper_on_VR_09.pdf
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  61. ^ ICPD+5 NEWS BULLETIN, United Nations General Assembly. Retrieved November 15, 2007.
  62. ^ "United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia". Escwa.org.lb. Retrieved 2010-01-17.
  63. ^ "International Labour Organization (Lebanon)". Ilo.org.lb. Retrieved 2010-01-17.
  64. ^ "UNESCO Beirut". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 2007-09-10. Retrieved 2010-01-17.
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  67. ^ "Union of Arab Stock Exchanges". arabstockexchanges.org. Retrieved 2011-02-12.
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  69. ^ Educalys website
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  72. ^ "International Served By Pappas Consulting". Pappas-consulting.com. Retrieved 2010-06-14.
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  76. ^ History Beirut International Airport
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  81. ^ Albert Londres Prizes, France Diplomatie
  82. ^ Daily Press Briefing, Embassy of France in the U.S.
  83. ^ Template:Fr icon Les Jeux de la Francophonie au Liban Beyrouth 2009, Libanvision
  84. ^ Template:Fr icon Les Jeux de la Francophonie, Moldavie.fr
  85. ^ 2009 World Book Capital, un.org
  86. ^ Butters, Andrew Lee (2009-03-17). "Drugs in the Middle East". Times/CNN. Retrieved 2010-03-02.
  87. ^ Sergeant, Mike (2008-02-13). "Is party over for Beirut's clubbers?". BBC News. Retrieved 2010-03-02.
  88. ^ History, National Museum of Beirut
  89. ^ "AUB Museum". Ddc.aub.edu.lb. Retrieved 2009-05-05.
  90. ^ "Welcome to Robert Mouawad Private museum". Rmpm.info. Retrieved 2009-05-05.
  91. ^ "Beirut City Center Culture — Planet Discovery". Solidere. Retrieved 2009-05-05.
  92. ^ UMAC Worldwide Database of University Museums & Collections
  93. ^ China Ready to Face Tough Task in Asian Cup Bidding, People's Daily
  94. ^ Lebanese Football need to make their mark in Asia[dead link], Maxell
  95. ^ a b Reuters (2011 [last update]). "Lebanese fashion designers reign supreme despite crisis | Reuters". reuters.com. Retrieved 5 July 2011. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help); Check date values in: |year= (help)
  96. ^ MyDestination.com (2011 [last update]). "Beirut Fashion Designers - My Destination Beirut". mydestination.com. Retrieved 5 July 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)
  97. ^ "Born-again Beirut". Fairfax Media. 2005-01-08. Retrieved 2010-03-02.
  98. ^ "Arts & Culture – Guidebooks from the edge, and from the heart". The Daily Star. 2010-03-25. Retrieved 2010-06-14.
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  101. ^ Travel and Leisure: Top 10 Cities Overall
  102. ^ Lutz, Meris (2009-09-26). "Lebanon tourism is back from a holiday". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-01-17.
  103. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Twinning the Cities". City of Beirut. Retrieved 2008-01-13.
  104. ^ "Isfahan, Beirut named sister cities". MNA. Retrieved 2007-05-02. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |month= and |coauthors= (help)
  105. ^ "Sister Cities of Istanbul". Retrieved 2007-09-08.
  106. ^ "Beirut, Lebanon". Lacity.org. Retrieved 2009-05-05.
  107. ^ "Yerevan Municipality – Sister Cities". © 2005–2009 www.yerevan.am. Retrieved 2009-06-22. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)

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