Port of Beirut

The Port of Beirut is a commercial port and maritime district along the Mediterranean coast featuring container terminals and cargo handling facilities. The facility spreads across a large area and operates daily to process ships and move goods in and out of the country.

The port was founded in 1887 under Ottoman rule and later received French administration and financial support for development. Over decades, it grew into one of the region's most important commercial connections.

The port shapes Beirut's identity as a meeting point where traders and sailors from Europe, Asia, and Africa come together. You can see this international character in the mix of people, languages, and goods moving through the waterfront daily.

The port is an active work zone, not a typical visitor destination, so access is restricted and may require special permission. If you approach the harbor area, stick to designated zones and follow any safety instructions posted on-site.

Warehouse 12 experienced a major ammonium nitrate explosion in 2020 that caused significant destruction across the surrounding area. The event reshaped the harbor's landscape and remains a deeply felt part of the city's recent memory.