–  Country:       Lebanon
–  Capital:         Beirut
–  Area:              10,452 Square Kilometers
– Population:  Approximately 4.5 million
– Local Time:  GMT +2 (Nov. to Mar)-GMT +3 (Apr. to Oct.)

Main Language:

Arabic (official), French, English, Armenian.

Political System:

A Parliamentary Democracy.

Climate and Packing Tips:

Lebanon has a Mediterranean climate characterized by long, hot, dry summers and short, cool, rainy winters. The climate is determined by Lebanon’s location between the subtropical aridity of the African continent and the subtropical humidity of the eastern Mediterranean area On its coastal area, Lebanon enjoys a Mediterranean climate (hot summers and mild winters).

Summer temperatures in the capital (Beirut) range from 29 o C to 32 o C (84 o F to 90 o F).

Winter temperatures range from 16 o C to 20 o C (61 o F to 66 o F).

Historical:

•  The Phoenicians were the first sea traders.
• The first law school in the world were built in Beirut (Beytus).
• Byblos is the oldest city in the world. The first Alphabet was created by Cadmus in  Byblos.
• Lebanon’s name has been around for over 4000 years.
• Beirut was destroyed and rebuilt 7 times. (This is why it’s compared to the Phoenix).
• Lebanon, the country, was occupied by over 16 countries (Egyptians – Hittites – Assyrians – Babylonians – Persians – Alexander the great’s Army – the Roman Empire Byzantine – the Arabian Peninsula – The Crusaders – the Ottoman Empire – Britain – France – Israel – Syria).
• According to Christianity, Jesus Christ made his 1st miracle in Lebanon, in Sidon (The miracle of turning water into wine).
• The name LEBANON appears 75 times in the Old Testament
• The name CEDAR (Lebanon’s tree) appears 75 times too in the Old Testament.
• King Solomon’s temple was built with Lebanon’s cedars.
• Egypt’s Pharaohs imported Lebanon’s cedars, marble and timber

Geographical and Demo Graphical:

• There are 15 rivers in Lebanon. All of them, generating from its mountains.
• Over a 100 Banks.
• There are 4,000,000 Lebanese in Lebanon.
• There are 12,000,000 Lebanese outside Lebanon.

Currency:

The best option is to take cash, together with your bank card to enable you to withdraw money during your holiday. Credit cards are accepted in most accommodation and higher-end restaurants. It is a good idea to advise your bank that you are traveling to Lebanon, as it is not unknown for banks to freeze customer’s cards after one or two foreign transactions for fear of fraud.

Country Dialing Code:

The country code for Lebanon is (+961). This is followed by the local area code and the telephone number.

Electricity Supply:

Electric current is 220 volts, 50 cycles. A two-pin plug, with round pins is commonly used (Type C, similar to many European countries).

Communications and Internet Connectivity:

It is important to check with your mobile phone provider to check whether you have roaming agreements and roaming costs. There are two mobile phone providers in Lebanon, and local SIM cards are available for purchase. Most hotels, and in recent years a number of cafés and shopping centres, have Wi-Fi internet access.

Beirut International Airport:

Beirut International Airport, is located 9 Airport kilometers from the city center in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon. It is the hub for Lebanon’s national carrier, Middle East Airlines. It is also the hub for the Lebanese cargo carrier Trans Mediterranean Airways.

Customs:

All ordinary personal effects are exempt from custom duty. Visitors are allowed to import 2 bottles of alcohol and 500gms of tobacco.

Health:

Lebanon is a developed country with great health facilities. Similar to travel to other foreign countries, hepatitis A and B vaccines are recommended; also make sure tetanus-diphtheria and measles vaccinations are up-to-date.

A typhoid vaccine is also recommended for travel to Lebanon. Although Beirut’s tap water is considered safe to drink, it’s probably best to drink bottled water as the Lebanese do.

Business Hours:

• Shops and businesses are typically open Monday through Saturday, 9:00-14:00.. Restaurant hours vary, and many restaurants, especially in Beirut, are open late.
• Banking hours are Monday through Saturday, 8:30-14:00.
• Working hours for government offices and post offices are typically 8:00-15:30.

Weekend:

• Sunday is the official holiday.
• Saturday and Sunday are enterprise closing days

Holidays:

• New Year’s Day – January 1
• Christmas (Armenian-Orthodox) – January 6
• St. Maroun’s Day – February 9
• Labor Day – May 1
• Lady Mary Assumption – August 15
• Independence Day – November 22
• Christmas – December 25

In addition to the following which dates may vary every year:

Catholic Good Friday, Orthodox Good Friday, Catholic Easter, Orthodox Easter, Ras As-Sana (Muslim New Year), Eid Al-Fitr (Two days), Eid Al-Adha (Two days), Al-Ashoura, Moulid An-Nabi (Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday)

Religion:

17 religious communities, most of which are Christian, Muslim and Druze.

Useful Numbers While You Are In Lebanon:

• Fire Brigade: 175
• Police: 112
• Red Cross: 140
• Information: 120
• Airport: 150
• Tourist Police: 1735

Visa:

Visa is granted upon arrival to Lebanon for the citizens of a number of foreign countries coming for the purpose of tourism.For more information entry requirement for international visitors to Lebanon, please visit  (https://www.general-security.gov.lb/en/posts/38)