Beirut’s Renewed Momentum
A new government offers the city a chance for renewal, with observable changes that contrast starkly with prior years.
“Did you see?” asks a friend when we arrive in Beirut. “There are now lanes on the airport highway and the traffic lights are working.”
Driving into the capital, the scene has shifted from billboards of stern-faced fighters to banners proclaiming a “new era for Lebanon.”
Downtown streets now echo with the sounds of construction rather than destruction, and the Grand Serail sits among scaffolding as part of a broader rebuild.
Lebanon’s culture minister, Ghassan Salamé, notes a population seeking a new paradigm, saying, “They are fed up with being told to be resilient, to smile.”
Visible Signs of Recovery
- Beaches crowded this summer
- Pharmacies fully stocked
- Electricity occasionally reliable through the night
Support for Energy Resilience
In April, the new finance minister signed a $250 million (€215 million) agreement with the World Bank to back renewable energy and grid resilience.
Overall Outlook
Lebanon ended 2024 on a low note but appears to be edging toward longer-term recovery, with Beirut at the center of renewed optimism.
Авторское резюме: Beirut shows tangible signs of renewal through infrastructure improvements, policy gestures, and international support, signaling cautious progress after a prolonged crisis.