Considered to be the most Westernized city of the Middle East, Beirut has survived almost complete destruction numerous times but has managed to retain the reputation of being a haven for liberalism and social acceptance. Even after 15 years of civil war in which Beirut was pushed to the brink of total devastation, the city is in the process of reconstruction and re-establishing itself as the "Paris of the Middle East."

Located on the Mediterranean Sea, the city of Beirut occupies a metropolitan area of 26 square miles. Beirut is situated atop two hills and the triangular peninsula that they create. The population of Beirut, according to the government, is estimated at 1.8 million people. It is approximately equally divided among Christian and Muslim residents. These figures are, however, very difficult to calculate due to the civil war and the large influx of Shi'ite immigrants into West and central Beirut.

Beirut is the primate city of Lebanon with almost five times the population of the second largest city, Tripoli. Before the civil war, Beirut was the "economic hub of the Middle East." Beirut's seaport, airport, free economic and foreign exchange system, stable currency (backed by gold), and banking-secrecy law helped to establish itself the commercial and industrial center "for the Arab world." Most of the wealth that established in Beirut was used to promote tourism, commercial enterprise, construction, and an industry based on textiles, and food processing. Beirut is also famous for its publishing industry. After introduced, the printing press quickly to hold in Beirut as it became the means to spread the liberal philosophies and political ideas that Beirut has become famous for. The civil war, however, has made drastic changes in the political, economic, and population geography of Beirut.