The Lebanese coastline is known for its beautiful blue waters, its rich biodiversity, and its beaches. However, to access these delights, it is often necessary to pay entry to seaside  resorts that have privatized many sections of coastline. Prices vary from five to over 50 dollars a day, with access to a pool, restaurants, and sometimes even hotel rooms. These resorts, which serve to exclude a major part of the population from enjoying the Mediterranean, are often built illegally. 

“80% of the Lebanese coast is privatized, with 1,108 resorts. This means that only around 40 kilometers is freely accessible to the public,” explained Mohamad Ayoub to Tamooda. Ayoub is the founder and director of Nahnoo, an NGO specializing in public spaces, arts and heritage, and good governance. During the summer 2023 season, seven Lebanese seaside resorts were reported for building violations and are currently being assessed for potential demolition. “From the extreme south, in Naqoura, up to Kfarabida, next to Batroun, we have violations,” says Ayoub. “Often, those who want to build ask for a maintenance permit, then overstep it.”

Many projects, such as Azur Bleu resort, have purchased land where building is illegal. “The owner simply purchased the land and decided to build his resort, hoping it would work, and it did!” exclaimed Ayoub. The organization raised awareness, and the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, responsible for the Lebanese coast, issued a decision to halt the construction. “However, we can see that the works are ongoing, just behind closed doors,” Ayoub added. This case was reported all across Lebanon, using various excuses. “In Naqoura, in the far South, a man took land from the sea, claiming the sea consumed some of his land,” he went on. “He decided to fill it… It’s ridiculous.”

Some resorts can be considered legal, as they have been the subject of decrees by government officials. “In total, 77 decrees have been issued; for example, the hotel Movenpick is one of them,” Mohamad Ayoub continued. This five-star hotel is located close to the Raouche rocks in Beirut, with pools overlooking the sea. However, Ayoub told Tamooda that even these decrees are often violated. “We have an example of a famous journalist in Kfarabida [a coastal village] who managed to secure a decree,” he said. “It explicitly stated that she could not build a pool, yet she did anyway. Nobody really checks what is done afterwards.” The lack of enforcement of existing laws is a major problem in Lebanon, empowering people who wish to flaunt, or simply ignore, the law of the land. 

Clara el-Khoury co-founded the “Save Kfarabida” campaign. “We started in 2016 to fight a massive project of privatization of the coastline. We protested and it worked!” she told Tamooda. This year, this group of around 20 active volunteers, as well as “other groups from other coastal cities in Lebanon,” are focused on a particular house. “We noticed something was off as the size of the construction was disproportionate to the land… And now, we realized she is building walls to block beach access and plans to build a terrace on the rocks. This will destroy the coast’s natural state.” Save Kfarabida did “everything” they could, even suing the owner, “but even if the law prohibits construction, corruption provides them a pass,” says Clara el-Khoury.

Around 40 kilometers Lebanon’s coast remains accessible to the general public. Public beaches include Ramlet el Baida in Beirut, the Tyre public beach, and Saida beach. However, most public beaches are highly polluted and poorly maintained. Ramlet el Baida, for example, this year reported a concentration of over 700 fecal streptococci per cubic meter of water, making the water extremely unsanitary, according to Tamara el-Zein, head of the CNRS Lebanon.

One reason for the pollution is poor wastewater management. Next to the beach is the luxury resort Eden Bay, built in 2017, which disposes of most of its wastewater into the sea. “The issue is always the same, waste management. Every time we talk to municipalities about it, they tell us the same thing: ‘we do not have enough money’, and with the crisis, it is getting worse,” says Mohamad Ayoub. Tamara el-Zein told Tamooda that the public beach in Saida is a perfect example of this problem. “Last year, there was a concentration of 300 fecal streptococci; this year, it’s 500,” she said. “When we inquired with the municipality, they informed us that the wastewater management facility was not functioning properly.”

Lebanon finds itself trapped: increasing pollution caused by inadequate infrastructure cannot be resolved due to deep systemic corruption. Nevertheless, organizations like Nahnoo and Save Kfarabida will persist in their fight for Lebanon's beautiful coastline to be clean, well maintained, and accessible to all.