Lebanon Travel Guide

Country Facts

Location

Middle East.

Language

The official language is Arabic, followed by French as the second language. English is widely spoken. Armenian is spoken by a small percentage of the population.

Area

10,452 sq km (4,036 sq miles).

Time Zone

GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).

Electricity

230 volts AC, 50Hz.

Population

3.9 million (CIA estimate 2007).

Population Density

375.6 per sq km.

Capital City

Beirut. Population: 1.17 million (2003).

Government

Republic.

Head of Government

Prime Minister Saad Hariri since 2009.

Religion

Islam and Christianity are the main religion. Islam (predominantly Shi’ite) accounts for approximately 59.7% of the population’s beliefs. Christian denominations, mainly Greek Orthodox, Maronite, Armenian and Protestant, account for another 39%. Other religions account for the remainder (including a very small Jewish community).

Recent History

An anti-Syrian alliance, led by Saad al-Hariri, son of the assassinated former prime minister Rafik Hariri, won control of Lebanon's parliament following elections in May and June 2005. Fouad Siniora was nominated as prime minister by all but two members of the new parliament. His cabinet was composed of mainly anti-Syrian ministers, as well as a minister from Hezbollah. Lebanon's fragile peace was shattered in July 2006, when Israeli forces attacked Lebanon following the kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah. Around 1,000 Lebanese were killed and much of the infrastructure destroyed.

Former president, Emile Lahoud, stepped down in November 2007 but parliament failed to agree on a successor.

Communications

Telephone

Country Code: +961. Telephone booths are accessible for local and international calls. Payphone cards are available from post offices and kiosks.

Mobile Telephone

Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies and there is coverage througout the country. Cellular phones are widely used and are available for hire to visitors.

Internet

There are internet cafes in Beirut, Tripoli and most major towns.

Media

Lebanon's broadcasting scene is well-developed and diverse, reflecting the country's pluralism and divisions. Lebanon was the first Arab country to permit private radio and television stations, but the government controls who may operate stations and whether or not they can broadcast news. Several stations are owned by leading politicians.

Post

Post to Europe and the USA usually takes from one to two weeks.

Press

There are more than 30 daily newspapers published in Arabic, Armenian and French. Daily Star is published in English. There are several English-language weeklies, primarily Monday Morning. The best-selling Arabic dailies are Al Anwar, Al Dyar, Al-Mustaqbal, An Nahar and Al Safir. The most important daily in French is L'Orient-Le Jour.

Radio

Radio Liban is state-run. Voice of Lebanon, Radio Delta and Radio One are commercial stations.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2010
7 Dec Islamic New Year
16 Dec Ashoura
25 Dec Christmas Day

2011
1 Jan New Year’s Day
6 Jan Orthodox Armenian Christmas
9 Feb Feast of St Maroun
15 Feb Mawlid al-Nabi (Prophet’s Birthday)
22 Apr Good Friday
23 Apr Orthodox Easter
24 Apr Easter Sunday
1 May Labor Day
6 May Martyrs’ Day
25 May Resistance and Liberation Day
15 Aug Assumption of the Virgin
30 Aug - 31 Aug Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan)
1 Nov All Saints’ Day
6 Nov Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice)
22 Nov Independence Day
26 Nov Islamic New Year
5 Dec Ashoura
25 Dec Christmas Day

2012
1 Jan New Year’s Day
6 Jan Orthodox Armenian Christmas
4 Feb Mawlid al-Nabi (Prophet’s Birthday)
9 Feb Feast of St Maroun
6 Apr Good Friday
8 Apr Easter Sunday
15 Apr Orthodox Easter
1 May Labor Day
6 May Martyrs’ Day
25 May Resistance and Liberation Day
15 Aug Assumption of the Virgin
19 Aug Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan)
25 Oct Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice)
1 Nov All Saints’ Day
15 Nov Islamic New Year
22 Nov Independence Day
24 Nov Ashoura
25 Dec Christmas Day
Muslim feasts are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Many restaurants are closed during the day and there may be restrictions on smoking and drinking. Some disruption may continue into Eid al-Fitr itself. Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha may last anything from two to 10 days, depending on the region.

Contact Information

Ministry of Tourism

550 rue de la Banque Centrale, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon
Tel: (1) 746 256.
Website: www.destinationlebanon.gov.lb

Embassy of the Republic of Lebanon in the UK

21 Palace Gardens Mews, London W8 4RB, UK
Tel: (020) 7229 7265.
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1530.

Embassy of the Republic of Lebanon in the USA

2560 28th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 939 6300.
Website: www.lebanonembassyus.org