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Data source: OurAirports (2026-09-01 Snapshot) · Methodology & Verification →

Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport

Compiled by Bill Gao

Beirut, Mount Lebanon Governorate (Lebanon)

IATA: BEY ICAO: OLBA

Longest Active Runway

12,467 ft

3,800 meters

Field Elevation

87 ft

27 m MSL

Runway Inventory

3 active

Lighted / Paved

Coordinates & Class

33.8198°, 35.4874°

LARGE AIRPORT

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Multi-Universe Rankings & Statistical Standing

How ranks work →

RunwayFacts Published Dataset

tied #112 of 650

In curated primary commercial index

Global Commercial Universe

#205 of 7558

Top 2.8% percentile worldwide

For airports with equal runway length, the worldwide order does not indicate a length difference.

National Standing (Lebanon)

#1 of 1 in LB

#1 of 2 in full national registry

vs Large Airport Median

+24.7%

Compared to 10,000 ft baseline

💡 BEY in numbers: 12,467 ft longest runway · tied #112 of 650 published · #205 of 7,558 worldwide (top 2.8%) · #1 in Lebanon.

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Editorial Aerodrome Deep Dive: Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY)

Curated Aerodrome Profile

Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport is Lebanon's vital air connection to the global diaspora. Because steep mountain ridges rise sharply immediately east of the airport, the airfield was re-engineered with runways extending into the Mediterranean Sea. Runway 03/21 measures 12,467 ft, allowing Middle East Airlines (MEA) and international carriers to depart at maximum takeoff weights over open water.

Runway Layout & Magnetic Alignments

Three active runways: 03/21 (12,467 ft / 3,800 m), 16/34 (11,122 ft / 3,390 m), and 17/35 (9,452 ft / 2,881 m).

Expansion Milestones & Predecessor Facilities

Opened in 1954 replacing the older Bir Hassan airfield. Rebuilt following the Lebanese Civil War in 1998 with land reclamation extending Runway 16/34 directly into the Mediterranean Sea.

Regional Differentiation & Cluster Role

Sole operational commercial airport in Lebanon, situated 5 NM south of Beirut city center.

Data Nuances & Operational Quirks

Flanked by the Mount Lebanon range to the east, requiring instrument arrivals to approach over water from the west; Runway 16/34 juts into the Mediterranean to avoid urban obstacles.

📚 Official Aerodrome Sourcing: Lebanon National Civil Aviation Authority · State Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) & ICAO Annex 14 Standards

Verification Methodology →

🔬 Operational & Aerodrome Engineering Comparative Analysis

Longest runway ≥10,500 ft

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Elevation & National Context

Lowland Aerodrome (<2,000 ft)

BEY lies at 27 m (87 ft), #454 of 650 published airports by elevation and 26.1 percentile among 7,558 worldwide.

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Regional Density & Alternates (100 NM)

1 Qualifying Aerodrome in Vicinity

Closest of 1 paved-runway (≥5,000 ft) neighbour within 100 NM: Damascus International Airport (DAM), 57 NM, 11,811 ft. BEY has the longest runway in this radius, 656 ft over DAM.

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Runway Inventory & National Standing

Primary Runway: 12,467 ft (3,800 m)

BEY runways: 03/21 12,467 × 148 ft concrete (con); 16/34 11,138 × 148 ft concrete (con); 17/35 10,663 × 197 ft asphalt (asp). +24.7% vs the 10,000 ft baseline.

🛫 Physical Runway Inventory & Surface Engineering

Runway Designator	Length (ft / m)	Width (ft / m)	Surface Material	Lighting	Status
03/21	12,467 ft (3800 m / 3.800 km)	148 ft (45m)	`Concrete (CON)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
16/34	11,138 ft (3395 m / 3.395 km)	148 ft (45m)	`Concrete (CON)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
17/35	10,663 ft (3250 m / 3.250 km)	197 ft (60m)	`Asphalt (ASP)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active

🧭 Comparative Aerodromes (100 NM Radius, ≥5,000 ft Paved)

Great-circle Haversine spatial proximity matching for commercial facilities with paved runway capacity within 100 NM.

Aerodrome Name	IATA	Distance	Longest Runway	Lighting
Damascus International Airport (Damascus)	`DAM`	57 NM (105.6 km)	11,811 ft	✅ Lighted

🛡️ Source: OurAirports Open Aviation Database, snapshot 2026-09-01 · Provenance →