Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport
Beirut, Lebanon

Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport
Lebanon's primary gateway to the Middle East and world.
- ›Renamed after assassinated Prime Minister Rafic Hariri in 2005.
- ›Located approximately 9 km south of Beirut's city centre.
- ›The airport was targeted and temporarily closed during the 2006 Lebanon-Israel conflict.
- ›It is the only international commercial airport in Lebanon.
- ›Middle East Airlines (MEA) uses Beirut as its primary hub and home base.
Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport, named after the assassinated former Prime Minister, has served as Lebanon's sole commercial airport since 1954 and remains the primary air link connecting the country to the world. Situated roughly 9 kilometres south of Beirut's city centre on the coastal plain, the airport carries a resilient history marked by wars, closures, and repeated revivals. Despite Lebanon's ongoing economic and political challenges, BEY continues to handle millions of passengers annually and serves as a key hub for Middle East Airlines.
- Terminal 1 — The main and only operational passenger terminal, handling all international arrivals and departures with duty-free shopping, dining, and airline lounges.
- Taxi (official airport taxis available at the arrivals exit, metered or negotiated fare)
- Private hire and ride-hailing apps (Allo Taxi, InDrive)
- Car rental desks inside the arrivals hall (Avis, Budget, Hertz, Europcar)
- Shared service taxis (service) available on the airport road toward Beirut
- Hotel shuttle buses for select Beirut properties (pre-booking advised)
- Coral Beirut Al Hamra
- Crowne Plaza Beirut
- Le Commodore Hotel Beirut
- Smallville Hotel Beirut
- Gefinor Rotana
Inside the terminal, passengers can find a modest selection of cafés, fast-food outlets, and Lebanese snack kiosks offering staples such as manoushe, shawarma, and fresh juices. Duty-free and airside options expand slightly post-security with a few sit-down café concepts. For a fuller dining experience, the nearby Beirut suburbs of Jnah and Khalde offer local restaurants serving authentic Lebanese cuisine just minutes from the airport.
- Arrive at least 3 hours before international flights, as security and check-in queues can be lengthy during peak summer travel season.
- Carry US dollars or Lebanese pounds in cash — card payment acceptance can be inconsistent due to the country's banking crisis.
- Confirm your airline's baggage allowance and any Lebanon-specific customs rules before travelling, particularly regarding cash declarations.
- Public bus service to the airport is limited and unreliable; pre-arranged taxis or rental cars are strongly recommended for reliable transfers.
AI-assisted overview, verified against public sources.
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Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport is the only operational commercial airport in Lebanon. It is located in the Southern Suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) from the city center. The airport is the hub for Lebanon's national carrier, Middle East Airlines (MEA) and was the hub for the Lebanese cargo carrier TMA cargo and Wings of Lebanon before their respective collapses.
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