Beirut
Beirut (/beɪˈruːt/ bay-ROOT; Arabic: بيروت, romanized: ⓘ) is the capital and largest city of Lebanon. As of 2014, Greater Beirut has a population of 2.5 million, which makes it the third-largest city in the Levant region and the thirteenth-largest in the Arab world. The city is situated on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coast. Beirut has been inhabited for more than 5,000 years, making it one of the oldest cities in the world.
Beirut
بيروت | |
|---|---|
Capital city and municipality | |
Left to right from top: Beirut Zaitunay Bay; Sahat al Shouhada; The Clock Tower in Nejmeh Square, Beirut; Maronite Cathedral of Saint George (left) and Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque (right); Sursock Museum; and Pigeon Rocks of Raouché | |
|
Flag Coat of arms | |
| Nickname: Paris of the East | |
| Motto(s): | |
Beirut Location of Beirut within Lebanon Beirut Beirut (Eastern Mediterranean) Beirut Beirut (Asia) | |
| Coordinates: 33°53′53″N 35°30′21″E | |
| Country | Lebanon |
| Governorate | Beirut |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Marwan Abboud |
| • Mayor | Abdallah Darwish |
| Area | |
| • Capital city and municipality | 67 km2 (26 sq mi) |
| Population (2017) | |
| • Capital city and municipality | c. 433,249 |
| • Metro | c. 2,145,527 |
| Demonym | Beiruti |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| Area code | +961 (01) |
| ISO 3166 code | LB-BA |
| Patron Saint | Saint George |
| Website | www |
Beirut is Lebanon's seat of government and plays a central role in the Lebanese economy, with many banks and corporations based in the city. Beirut is an important seaport for the country and region, and rated a Beta + World City by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network. Beirut was severely damaged by the Lebanese Civil War, the 2006 Lebanon War, and the 2020 massive explosion in the Port of Beirut. Its architectural and demographic structure underwent major change in recent decades.