Photo of the Lebanese coastline at Madfoun (North Lebanon). (Credit: P.H.B.)
Caretaker Public Works and Transportation Minister Ali Hamieh announced the formation of joint commissions from his Ministry and the Ministry of Finance to revise the "estimated price per square meter" used to determine the annual fee for temporary occupation of the public maritime domain. This fee is paid by individuals or entities with structures on land overlooking the sea.
The calculation method for these fees and the price per square meter was changed by Decree No. 4217 on Dec. 28, 2018, when the exchange rate was LL1507.5 to the dollar. With the current exchange rate around LL89,500 to the dollar, a second decree, No. 11,258 dated April 15, 2023, dollarized the fees. This decree stipulated that initial rates in pounds must first be converted to dollars at the old rate of LL1507.5 and then adjusted based on the average market exchange rate the day before the issuance or renewal of the temporary occupation authorization. While the commissions will not change the fees directly, adjusting the price per square meter will likely lead to future modifications.
Hamieh made this announcement at a press conference at the Directorate General for Land and Maritime Transport in Beirut. He expects the commissions to complete their work within two months but has not provided further details on the process.