After nearly five years of silence and darkness, Beirut Souks have reopened their doors, marking a symbolic and economic milestone for a capital that has endured one crisis after another.

Under the slogan “Beirut Souks Reborn,” the management launched an event titled “The Return of Life to the Heart of the Capital,” in a bid to recapture the city’s once-vibrant spirit.

Before Lebanon’s economic collapse, Beirut Souks were among the city’s most dynamic landmarks. The hum of shoppers mixed with café chatter and music, while tourists and locals alike filled the wide pedestrian alleys that glowed deep into the night.

But the financial crisis that erupted in 2019 drained the city of its vitality. The once-crowded shopping arcades emptied, their lights dimmed, and storefronts shuttered. Then, in August 2020, the Beirut Port explosion delivered another devastating blow, flattening much of the surrounding area and extinguishing what life remained in the downtown district.

Today, the scene is shifting. The reopening of several stores in Beirut Souks has offered a flicker of hope in a weary economy. New investments are trickling in, creating jobs and injecting confidence into a market long defined by uncertainty.

Small and medium-sized enterprises are beginning to find their footing again, while international brands are cautiously returning to Lebanon. 

Speaking to Al-Modon, Beirut Governor Marwan Abboud hailed the reopening as a turning point.

“Reopening the souks means Beirut is coming back to life, to what it once was,” he said. “It took a long time to rebuild trust and attract investors, but now that Beirut is rising again, no one can stop it.”

Public Works Minister Fayez Rasamny shared a similar sentiment, saying that the private sector has never lost faith in this country.

“Lebanon is going through difficult times, but the good days will outnumber the hard ones," he said.

Tourism Minister Laura El Khazen added that “the situation is improving, Beirut is changing, and all of this is helping the economy and tourism.”