Bookstores in Lebanon: Arabic, French, English, and the Beirut Book Fair

Beirut earned its reputation as a regional publishing hub for a reason: Arabic publishers like Dar al-Adab and Dar al-Saqi have shaped modern Arabic literature, French chains like Antoine and Librairie Stephan maintain deep European inventories, and a network of secondhand and rare-book shops in Hamra and Bourj Hammoud keeps older treasures circulating.

Major bookstores and what they carry

• Antoine Librairie: the largest French/English chain, with multiple branches; strong on bestsellers, school books, stationery.
• Librairie Stephan: well-curated French selection.
• Dar al-Adab, Dar al-Saqi, Dar al-Farabi (storefronts): deep Arabic literary catalogs at publisher-direct prices.
• Halabi Bookshop and similar Hamra independents: Arabic literature, political nonfiction, academic titles.
• Secondhand and antiquarian shops: scattered through Hamra; gold for older editions and out-of-print works.

The Beirut International Book Fair

Held annually (usually around late autumn/winter at Seaside Arena or BIEL), the Arabic Beirut International Book Fair is the largest Arabic book event in the region. Publishers offer significant discounts and bring new releases. A separate French-language Salon du Livre runs in spring at the Maison du Liban or BIEL with French publishers and authors.

Buying online and importing

Lebanese e-commerce for books has improved (some bookstores now ship); for English titles not stocked locally, regional Amazon sites with Lebanese delivery or aggregator services are common. Customs on book imports is usually low or zero.

Public and community libraries

Outside bookstores, the AUB and Université Saint-Joseph libraries are accessible to community members under various access rules. Public libraries (e.g., Assabil municipal libraries in Beirut) lend free of charge to registered residents.