Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport

Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport is about 9 km from central Beirut. By taxi or car, the drive to downtown usually takes about 15 to 20 minutes when traffic is light. At rush hour, congestion on the roads into the city can make the trip noticeably longer, so allow extra time if you arrive in the morning or late afternoon.

The airport lies in Beirut's southern suburbs, close to the Mediterranean coast, rather than in the city center. It is about 9 km from downtown Beirut, which makes it one of the closer airports to its city in the region. Areas such as Hamra, Achrafieh and Mar Mikhael are a short drive away.

Beirut airport has one U-shaped passenger terminal. It is divided into an East Wing, with gates 1 to 12, and a West Wing, with gates 13 to 23, both connected through the central building. All airlines use this terminal, so you don't need to change buildings when connecting between flights.

Middle East Airlines, Lebanon's national carrier, is based at Beirut and flies to Europe, the Gulf and Africa. Other airlines serving Beirut in 2026 include Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, flydubai, Air Arabia, Royal Jordanian, EgyptAir, Turkish Airlines, Pegasus Airlines, AJet, Cyprus Airways, Iraqi Airways and Air France. Schedules changed often during 2026, so check your airline's current timetable.

Beirut airport is open and handling international flights. Several foreign airlines paused their Beirut services in 2026 and returned in stages; Emirates resumed in April 2026 and Air France resumed Paris flights on 26 September 2026. Middle East Airlines operates the largest number of routes. Because schedules have changed at short notice, check your flight status with your airline before traveling.

Official airport taxis wait at a rank outside the arrivals exit on the ground level, and the rank is open 24 hours. The official cars carry a plane logo. Drivers who approach you in the arrivals area often don't use meters, so it is better to use the official rank or agree on the fare clearly before you get in.

No public bus or train stops at the terminal itself. Some city bus routes stop at the airport roundabout, about 1 km from the terminal, with lines toward Hamra and central Beirut. Walking there with luggage is not easy, so most arriving travelers use a taxi, a rideshare app or a pre-booked transfer instead.

Yes, Uber operates in Beirut and you can request a pickup at the airport through the app. You need mobile data, either through roaming or a local SIM card bought in arrivals. Drivers often can't stop directly outside the arrivals exit, so be ready to message your driver and agree on a nearby pickup point.

Many nationalities, including US, UK, Canadian, Australian and EU citizens, receive a free one-month tourist visa on arrival at Beirut airport, which can be renewed. Gulf and Jordanian citizens can get longer tourist visas. Travelers whose passports contain an Israeli visa or stamp are likely to be refused entry, so check the rules for your nationality before flying.

Byblos and Jounieh lie north of Beirut along the coast, so trips from the airport pass through or around the city. A taxi, rideshare or pre-booked transfer goes directly, and the drive time depends heavily on traffic through Beirut. There is no direct public transport from the terminal to either town, so most visitors go by car.

Beirut uses Eastern European Time, UTC+2, and moves to UTC+3 for daylight saving time in summer. The official currency is the Lebanese pound, but US dollars are widely used for everyday payments. The city has a Mediterranean climate, with hot, humid summers and mild, rainy winters, so pack light clothing for summer.

Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport is run by Lebanon's Directorate General of Civil Aviation, which also manages the country's air traffic control. The airport handled about 7.0 million passengers in 2025, up from about 5.6 million in 2024. Middle East Airlines and its ground handling company handle most of the airport's traffic.