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Geography:
Situated along the eastern shores of the
Mediterranean Sea, Lebanon is a country of
just 10,452km².
Climate:
Lebanon enjoys a mild Mediterranean
climate with an average of 300 sunny days
a year. It almost never rains between June
and September, but July and August are
often hot and humid. Winters are generally
cool with heavy rain on the coast and snow
in the mountains. Nevertheless, winter
brings many pleasant days, making Lebanon
ideal for winter sports. Average
temperatures range from 29ºC to 32ºC (
84ºF to 90ºF) in summer and 16ºC to 19ºC (
61ºF to 66ºF) in winter.
Population: 3.1 million
Literacy rate: 90%
Language:
Arabic is the official language of the
country. The use of French has been
widespread since the French Mandate
period. English is the language of
business and is spoken by an increasing
number of Lebanese. You will certainly
have no problems in communication, since
most Lebanese are at least bi-lingual.
Local Time:
Lebanese time is GMT +2 from October to
March and +3 hours from April to
September.
Currency:
Currency is Lebanese Pound or Lira (L.L)
whose rate of exchange is approximately
LL1,500 to the US Dollar.
Electric Current:
It is 220V; two-pin plugs with no earth
pin are used.
Business Hours:
From Monday morning till Saturday noon:
- Government offices: 0800-1400
- Banks: 0830-1230
- Private offices: 0830-1700
- Shops: 0900-1900
Note: Hours may vary sometimes; it is
always advisable to check.
Visas:
Travelers wishing to enter Lebanon must
possess a valid passport with a visa
obtained from a Lebanese embassy or
consulate abroad. Residents of 33
countries including members of the
European Union, Japan, USA, Canada,
Australia and countries of the Arabian
Gulf can obtain visas at the airport in
Beirut.
Customs:
Personal effects are exempt from customs.
Alcohol is limited to two bottles per
person and tobacco to 500grams, 400
cigarettes or 20 cigars.
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