Lebanon saw a 40.06% year-on-year (YoY) drop in construction permits in January 2025, reaching a total of 555 permits, according to data from the Orders of Engineers in Beirut and Tripoli. However, the Construction Area Authorized by Permits (CAP) increased by 12.12% to record 499,406 square meters (sqm). This could be explained by the increased tendency for group projects rather than individual projects.
Moreover, construction activity showed mixed trends compared to the previous year. While North Lebanon experienced growth, all other governorates saw a decline. The table below provides a detailed breakdown by governorate:
| Governorate | # of Permits | Weight | YOY Change |
| Beirut | 2 | 0.36% | -93.75% |
| Mt Lebanon | 196 | 35.32% | -25.48% |
| North Lebanon | 168 | 30.27% | 15.86% |
| Bekaa | 33 | 5.95% | -66.67% |
| South Lebanon | 106 | 19.10% | -56.20% |
| Nabatiye | 50 | 9.01% | -65.52% |
| Total | 555 | 100% | -40.06% |
It is worth noting that people remain fearful that conflict could erupt at any moment. Despite the ceasefire agreement reached on November 27, 2024, Israel until today continues multiple strikes on some areas. Compared to January 2024, when the war was largely confined to southern Lebanon, by September 2024 it had spread beyond the south and reached Beirut, intensifying concerns and uncertainty, and explaining the drastic decrease in permits across all governorates.
Number of Construction Permits
Source: Orders of Engineers in Beirut & Tripoli
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