Why is there aircraft noise around Beirut Airport?

Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY/OLBA) is Lebanon's only major commercial airport, handling around 7 million passengers per year on the southern Beirut coast. The airport sits 9 km south of central Beirut, with the corridor extending through the dense southern suburbs (Dahieh): Ouzai, Bourj el Brajneh, Bir Hassan, Choueifat. Most approaches come from the west over the Mediterranean. The single main runway (17/35) is oriented north-south along the coast. Central Beirut — Hamra, Achrafieh, Downtown, Mar Mikhael, Gemmayze — sits clear of the corridor.

Which Beirut neighborhoods are quietest for aircraft noise?

Central Beirut sits clear of the corridor: Hamra, Achrafieh, Downtown (Solidere), Mar Mikhael, Gemmayze, Verdun, Clemenceau, Mathaf, Sodeco. The popular nomad and expat districts (Hamra near AUB, Achrafieh, Mar Mikhael) catch only altitude overflight. The mountain destinations (Brummana, Beit Mery, Faraya, Ehden) and the northern coastal towns (Jounieh, Byblos) are essentially aircraft-noise-free. The most affected areas are the southern suburbs (Dahieh) and the airport-adjacent coastal towns south of central Beirut.

Is Hamra loud from planes?

No — Hamra, the historic district around the American University of Beirut popular with students, expats, and creatives, sits ~9 km north of the airport and catches only altitude overflight. Aircraft pass at moderate altitudes (~3000-5000 ft) on certain approaches. The neighborhood's main noise sources are the active dining and student-life scene plus the busy traffic — not aircraft. For long-term residents and nomads choosing Hamra, aircraft noise is essentially not a factor.

Is Mar Mikhael loud from planes?

No — Mar Mikhael, the trendy nightlife district popular with nomads, sits ~10 km north of the airport and is essentially aircraft-noise-free. The neighborhood's character — bars, restaurants, art galleries — is much more affected by the active street scene than by airport noise. For nomads choosing Mar Mikhael for its character, the noise factor is not relevant.

How does Beirut compare to other Middle Eastern hubs?

Beirut's traffic volume is much lower than Dubai (DXB) or Doha (DOH) — both of which are 100M+ passenger hubs. Beirut handles ~7 million passengers per year. The single-runway constraint, the security situation, and the limited overnight operations all keep BEY's noise footprint relatively modest. For Middle East-focused nomads, Beirut's central districts are more aircraft-noise-friendly than equivalent districts in Dubai or Doha.

How do I report aircraft noise in Beirut?

Submit complaints to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation Lebanon (DGCA) via gov.lb. The Beirut airport authority and the affected municipalities (Dahieh districts, Choueifat, Ouzai) operate community complaint channels. The political and administrative complexity in Lebanon affects the responsiveness of noise complaints; coordinated resident advocacy is limited.

Does coverage on this map include all aircraft?

Mostly — commercial Middle Eastern and international fleets at Beirut have near-100% ADS-B coverage. Some regional and chartered aircraft (particularly for security-sensitive operations) may broadcast restricted information or operate without ADS-B. Coverage at BEY is probably 80-95% of commercial movements. Military operations from the airport (which serves both civilian and Lebanese Armed Forces) are not typically visible.

Beirut Flight Path Noise Map – Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY)

Name: Aircraft noise observations near Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport
Creator: Flight Path Noise
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Aircraft noise around Beirut in October 2026

Loudest neighborhoods near Beirut: Ouzai, Bourj el Brajneh, Choueifat, Bir Hassan. Quietest: Hamra, Achrafieh, Mar Mikhael, Gemmayze, Verdun. Busiest around 3 PM local time averaging 92 flights/day. Source: Flight Path Noise monitoring data, 30 days to 2026-10-18.

Flights by hour · last 30 days

12a6a12p6p

Average daily traffic

flights / day · 2,749 total

Busiest hour

3 PM

peak 95 dB

Loudest hour

3 PM

peak 95 dB

Loudest residential area

Bourj el Brajneh

63 dB avg · ~77 flights/day · Office noise

Dense southern suburb under approach/departure corridors

Does Beirut Airport have a curfew?

No — Beirut has no formal curfew.

Beirut does not have a formal curfew but operations are concentrated between 6 AM and midnight. Overnight operations include some cargo, delayed flights, and occasional regional connections. Periodic security concerns and conflict situations have led to ad-hoc restrictions over the years. The volume of overnight movements is moderate compared to major Middle Eastern hubs (Dubai, Doha).

Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY/OLBA) is Lebanon’s only major commercial airport, sitting on the southern Beirut coast — 9 km south of central Beirut. The single main runway alignment and over-water approach geometry keep most of the noise away from central Beirut. The corridor extends through the dense southern suburbs (Dahieh). Central Beirut — Hamra, Achrafieh, Downtown, Mar Mikhael, Gemmayze — sits clear and catches only altitude overflight.

Which neighborhoods are quietest — and which aren’t

BEY has three runways: 17/35 (the main north-south, 3,800 m), 03/21 (cross runway), and 16/34 (parallel). Most operations use the main 17/35. With prevailing westerly winds, arrivals come from the west over the Mediterranean, departing south or north.

Area	Aircraft noise	Why
Ouzai	✈︎✈︎✈︎	Airport-adjacent coastal
Bourj el Brajneh	✈︎✈︎✈︎	Dahieh under approach
Choueifat	✈︎✈︎✈︎	South coastal under approach
Bir Hassan	✈︎✈︎✈︎	Southern departure
Sin el Fil	✈︎✈︎	Lateral approach
Hamra	✈︎	Historic district; altitude only
Achrafieh	✈︎	Upscale district; minimal
Mar Mikhael	✈︎	Trendy district; off corridor
Gemmayze	✈︎	Bar district; clear
Verdun	✈︎	Upscale shopping; clear
Downtown	✈︎	Solidere; altitude only
Jounieh	✈︎	Coastal city north; outside footprint

The practical move at Beirut for aircraft noise is central Beirut or the mountains/north coast. All the popular nomad and expat districts in central Beirut sit clear. The southern suburbs (Dahieh) catch the corridor.

Flight patterns and runway use

BEY operates the main runway 17/35 with the cross runway 03/21 for cross-winds. Most operations are over-water approaches from the west.

When is it quietest?

BEY operates concentrated daytime traffic:

6 AM – 9 AM: morning departure bank
Midday: moderate sustained
Evening arrival bank (4 PM – 11 PM): peak
Late evening – midnight: tapers
Midnight – 6 AM: minimal operations

For your specific address, drop a pin on the map above.

How to check noise at your specific address

Search your address or postcode in the bar at the bottom.
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Read the noise report.

Central Beirut addresses will show flat green profiles. Southern Beirut and the Dahieh districts vary significantly by block.

Frequently asked questions

Why is there aircraft noise around Beirut Airport?: Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY/OLBA) is Lebanon's only major commercial airport, handling around 7 million passengers per year on the southern Beirut coast. The airport sits 9 km south of central Beirut, with the corridor extending through the dense southern suburbs (Dahieh): Ouzai, Bourj el Brajneh, Bir Hassan, Choueifat. Most approaches come from the west over the Mediterranean. The single main runway (17/35) is oriented north-south along the coast. Central Beirut — Hamra, Achrafieh, Downtown, Mar Mikhael, Gemmayze — sits clear of the corridor.
Which Beirut neighborhoods are quietest for aircraft noise?: Central Beirut sits clear of the corridor: Hamra, Achrafieh, Downtown (Solidere), Mar Mikhael, Gemmayze, Verdun, Clemenceau, Mathaf, Sodeco. The popular nomad and expat districts (Hamra near AUB, Achrafieh, Mar Mikhael) catch only altitude overflight. The mountain destinations (Brummana, Beit Mery, Faraya, Ehden) and the northern coastal towns (Jounieh, Byblos) are essentially aircraft-noise-free. The most affected areas are the southern suburbs (Dahieh) and the airport-adjacent coastal towns south of central Beirut.
Is Hamra loud from planes?: No — Hamra, the historic district around the American University of Beirut popular with students, expats, and creatives, sits ~9 km north of the airport and catches only altitude overflight. Aircraft pass at moderate altitudes (~3000-5000 ft) on certain approaches. The neighborhood's main noise sources are the active dining and student-life scene plus the busy traffic — not aircraft. For long-term residents and nomads choosing Hamra, aircraft noise is essentially not a factor.
Is Mar Mikhael loud from planes?: No — Mar Mikhael, the trendy nightlife district popular with nomads, sits ~10 km north of the airport and is essentially aircraft-noise-free. The neighborhood's character — bars, restaurants, art galleries — is much more affected by the active street scene than by airport noise. For nomads choosing Mar Mikhael for its character, the noise factor is not relevant.
How does Beirut compare to other Middle Eastern hubs?: Beirut's traffic volume is much lower than Dubai (DXB) or Doha (DOH) — both of which are 100M+ passenger hubs. Beirut handles ~7 million passengers per year. The single-runway constraint, the security situation, and the limited overnight operations all keep BEY's noise footprint relatively modest. For Middle East-focused nomads, Beirut's central districts are more aircraft-noise-friendly than equivalent districts in Dubai or Doha.
How do I report aircraft noise in Beirut?: Submit complaints to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation Lebanon (DGCA) via gov.lb. The Beirut airport authority and the affected municipalities (Dahieh districts, Choueifat, Ouzai) operate community complaint channels. The political and administrative complexity in Lebanon affects the responsiveness of noise complaints; coordinated resident advocacy is limited.
Does coverage on this map include all aircraft?: Mostly — commercial Middle Eastern and international fleets at Beirut have near-100% ADS-B coverage. Some regional and chartered aircraft (particularly for security-sensitive operations) may broadcast restricted information or operate without ADS-B. Coverage at BEY is probably 80-95% of commercial movements. Military operations from the airport (which serves both civilian and Lebanese Armed Forces) are not typically visible.

Sources and further reading

Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport — Wikipedia — Wikipedia
Beirut Airport — Official — BHIA — Beirut–Hariri International Airport
Directorate General of Civil Aviation Lebanon — Lebanese Government
Lebanese Ministry of Public Works and Transport — Ministry of Public Works and Transport

Data updated 2026-10-18 — live ADS-B monitoring, rolling 30-day statistics (methodology). Article text revised 2026-05-23.

30 dB	Whisper
45 dB	Quiet residential
55 dB	Normal conversation
65 dB	Busy road
75 dB	Vacuum cleaner
85 dB	Heavy traffic
95 dB	Motorcycle nearby

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Beirut Flight Path Noise Map – Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY)

Aircraft noise around Beirut in October 2026

Does Beirut Airport have a curfew?

Which neighborhoods are quietest — and which aren’t

Flight patterns and runway use

When is it quietest?

How to check noise at your specific address

Frequently asked questions

Sources and further reading

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