Beirut Digital District
Beirut Digital District (BDD) is a built community dedicated to creating a hub for the digital and creative industries in Lebanon. It was officially launched in September 2012 in the Bachoura district of Beirut as a government facilitated project established between ZRE s.a.l. (a private real-estate company), Berytech (an incubator accelerator for the development of startups in the ICT field), and The Ministry of Telecommunications, who acted as a facilitator and provided broadband internet and telephone infrastructure.
CNN’s Andrew Stevens called BDD the powerhouse for startups in the Middle East.[1][2][3][4]
Location[edit]
Beirut Digital District is located in the Bachoura district, the center of Beirut City, Lebanon. BDD is close to the airport and seaport, about 5 minutes away from downtown, and minutes away from American University of Beirut, Lebanese American University, Saint Joseph University, École Supérieure des Affaires, and Sagesse University.
Facilities[edit]
There are multiple amenities and services provided by Beirut Digital District:
- Conference and meeting rooms and audio-conference rooms
- Events and workshop spaces
- Gym and fitness classes
- Eatery and coffee shop
- Fiber optics and Wi-Fi
- Parking spaces and valet services
- HR services
- Business and legal setup services
Phases[edit]
The development of Beirut Digital District has been separated into 4 phases:
Phase A[edit]
The first phase was completed in 2016. In this phase, the total build up area of BDD is 17,500 square meters dedicated to office spaces.[5]
Phase B[edit]
This phase was completed in 2022 where BDD became a 44,500 square meter district dedicated to office spaces, with the introduction of the offices of the future in the latest two buildings.[6]
Phase C[edit]
This phase makes BDD an 84,000 square meter district dedicated to office spaces and residential units and is due completion in 2025.
Phase D[edit]
The last phase, to be completed in 2030, will transform BDD into a 150,000 square meter district with multiple offices and residential units.
References[edit]
- ^ Stevens. "Lebanon's Silicon Valley". CNN.
- ^ Wade. "Welcome to the World's New Silicon Valley". Archived from the original on 2017-02-03. Retrieved 2017-01-17.
- ^ طربيه (2 May 2015). "مبادرة جديدة في بيروت لتطوير الاقتصاد الرقمي في لبنان".
- ^ Nabbout. "Berytech, ZRE & the Ministry of Telecom Launch Beirut Digital District". Archived from the original on 2017-01-13. Retrieved 2017-01-17.
- ^ Rahal. "How a physical space like BDD is supporting entrepreneurship in Beirut".
- ^ Ballout. "Beirut Digital District expanding into work, live, play neighborhood".