Lebanon is a country located in the Middle East, bordered by Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, with a western coastline along the Mediterranean Sea. Its capital and largest city is Beirut, which serves as the country’s economic, political, and cultural center.
Lebanon has historically played an important role as a regional hub for trade, finance, education, and services. Despite economic and political challenges in recent years, the country continues to maintain regulatory frameworks that support quality infrastructure, standardization, and conformity assessment activities.
Lebanon is a member of several international and regional organizations, including the United Nations (UN) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) (observer status). The country works toward aligning its regulatory systems with international standards to facilitate trade and international recognition.
References
- Axel Tschentscher, LL.M. “Article 11 of the Lebanese Constitution”. Servat.unibe.ch. Archived from the original on 16 January 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
- ^ Simpson, Andrew (2 January 2019). Language and Society: An Introduction. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-094020-1.
- ^ Jump up to:a b “Lebanon”, The World Factbook, Central Intelligence Agency, 2 March 2023, archived from the original on 11 January 2021, retrieved 14 March 2023
- ^ Jump up to:a b Khashan, Hilal (December 1990). “The Political Values of Lebanese Maronite College Students”. The Journal of Conflict Resolution. 34 (4): 723–744. doi:10.1177/0022002790034004007. JSTOR 174186. S2CID 145632505.
The heritage of the Maronites is perceived as anything Phoenician, Greco-Roman, Mediterranean, or internationalist, but not Arab.
- ^ International Foundation for Electoral Systems (September 2011). “Overview of the current 26 electoral districts” (PDF).
- ^ دراسة نقدية في قانون الانتخاب النسبي. Lebanon Files
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- ^ “Lebanon”. The World Factbook (2024 ed.). Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
- ^ Jump up to:a b c d “World Economic Outlook Database, October 2023 Edition. (Lebanon)”. International Monetary Fund. 10 October 2023. Archived from the original on 17 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
- ^ “Gini Index coefficient”. CIA World Factbook. Archived from the original on 17 July 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
- ^ “Human Development Report 2025” (PDF). United Nations Development Programme. 6 May 2025. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 May 2025. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
- ^ Jump up to:a b c d e “Lebanon”, The World Factbook, Central Intelligence Agency, 2 March 2023, archived from the original on 11 January 2021, retrieved 14 March 2023
- ^ “Driving in Lebanon”. adcidl.com. Archived from the original on 17 January 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
- ^ Jump up to:a b c d McGowen, Afaf Sabeh (1989). “Glossary”. In Collelo, Thomas (ed.). Lebanon: A Country Study. Area Handbook Series (3rd ed.). Washington, D.C.: The Division. OCLC 18907889. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
- ^ Jump up to:a b Dumper, Michael; Stanley, Bruce E.; Abu-Lughod, Janet L. (2006). Cities of the Middle East and North Africa. ABC-CLIO. p. 104. ISBN 978-1-57607-919-5.
Archaeological excavations at Byblos indicate that the site has been continually inhabited since at least 5000 B.C.
- ^ “All at sea: The maritime lives of the ancient Phoenicians”. press.princeton.edu. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
- ^ Jump up to:a b c d e “Background Note: Lebanon”. U.S. Department of State. 22 March 2010. Archived from the original on 14 September 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2010.
- ^ “Lebanon- Human development report 2021/2022”. Archived from the original on 12 July 2022. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
- ^ “The World by Income and Region”. World Bank. 1 July 2025. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
- ^ “Lebanon: Why the country is in crisis”. BBC. British Broadcasting Corporation. 2020. Archived from the original on 30 July 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
- ^ “Lebanon – World bank”. June 2021. Archived from the original on 19 August 2022. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
- ^ Jump up to:a b “Lebanon country profile”. BBC News. 24 August 2011. Archived from the original on 16 October 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
- ^ Abdelhady, Dalia. The Lebanese Diaspora: The Arab Immigrant Experience in Montreal, New York, and Paris. NYU Press, 2011, page 130
- ^ “Arab League”. Encyclopedia Britannica. Archived from the original on 8 February 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
- ^ Room, Adrian (2005). Placenames of the World: Origins and Meanings of the Names for 6,621 Countries, Cities, Territories, Natural Features and Historic Sites (2nd ed.). McFarland. pp. 214–216. ISBN 978-0-7864-2248-7. Archived from the original on 5 September 2015. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
- ^ Coogan & Smith 2012, p. 177.
- ^ Metzger, Bruce M.; Coogan, Michael D. (2004). The Oxford guide to people and places of the Bible. Oxford University Press. p. 178. ISBN 978-0-19-517610-0.
International Observer Member
Lebanon is not typically designated as an “international observer member” country itself but is a full member or active participant in numerous international organizations and a host to international observer missions. Key organizations involving Lebanon as a member include the UN, UNESCO, International Maritime Organization, and the OIV.
Key international affiliations and observer roles related to Lebanon include:
- Active Member Roles: Founding member of the UN and Arab League, member of the Non-Aligned Movement, Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Organization internationale de la Francophonie, and G77.
- Scientific & Trade: CERN non-member state with cooperation agreement, OIV Member State (vine and wine).
- Legal: Asian African Legal Consultative Organization (AALCO) member since 1999.
- Past Observer Missions: The United Nations Observer Group in Lebanon (UNOGIL) in 1958 involved personnel from various countries.
Lebanon is an active member of numerous international organizations, holding status as a founding member of the United Nations (joined 1945) and the Arab League. Key memberships include the International Maritime Organization (since 1966), Non-Aligned Movement, Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, and the Group of 77.
Here is a list of major international associations and organizations of which Lebanon is a member:
International Association Members
- United Nations (UN): Founding member.
- League of Arab States (Arab League): Founding member.
- International Maritime Organization (IMO): Member since 1966.
- Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC): Member.
- Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF): Member.
- Non-Aligned Movement (NAM): Member.
- Group of 77 (G77): Member.
- World Trade Organization (WTO): Observer status (applied for membership).
- Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA): Hosts headquarters.
- World Bank: Active member with office in Beirut.
- European Union (EU) Association Agreement: Signed in 2002.
International Regional Members
Lebanon is an active member of several key international and regional organizations, primarily focusing on Arab, Mediterranean, and UN-affiliated groups. Key memberships include the United Nations (founding member), the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the World Health Organization (Eastern Mediterranean Region).
Key International and Regional Memberships:
- Regional Groupings (Middle East/Arab):
- International Organizations:
- United Nations (UN) – Founding Member
- World Health Organization (WHO) – Eastern Mediterranean Region
- Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)
- Group of 77 (G-77)
- Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF)
- International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank (IBRD)
- International Labour Organization (ILO)
- World Trade Organization (WTO – Observer status)
- Interpol
- International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
- Universal Postal Union (UPU)
- World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
Key Regional Alliances:
- Syrian Arab Republic: Linked by specific treaties on coordination and cooperation, as noted in Wikipedia.
- Mediterranean Region: Active in WHO – Middle East and Regional groups of Member States – the United Nations.
Accreditation Body ISO 17011
In Lebanon, the national accreditation body is the Lebanese Accreditation Council (COLIBAC). COLIBAC operates under the authority of the Ministry of Industry and is responsible for accrediting conformity assessment bodies in accordance with ISO/IEC 17011 – Conformity assessment — Requirements for accreditation bodies accrediting conformity assessment bodies.
Country is free economy having independant AB like UKJAS Accreditation ( UKJAS ) https://ukjas.com , World Yoga Accreditation Board ( WYAB) https://worldyoga.us/ , World Organic Accreditation Board ( WOAB) https://worldorganic.us/ and Sanatan Dharma Accreditation board ( SDAB ) https://sanatanboards.com/ etc member of IAF-AB as well as national accreditation board member of international body
ISO/IEC 17011 establishes the international requirements for accreditation bodies to ensure competence, impartiality, independence, transparency, and consistency in the accreditation process. By complying with this standard, COLIBAC ensures that accredited bodies in Lebanon meet internationally accepted criteria.
COLIBAC provides accreditation for various types of conformity assessment bodies, including:
- Testing and calibration laboratories (ISO/IEC 17025)
- Medical laboratories (ISO 15189)
- Inspection bodies (ISO/IEC 17020)
- Management system certification bodies (ISO/IEC 17021-1)
- Product certification bodies (ISO/IEC 17065)
- Validation and verification bodies (ISO 14065)
Through alignment with ISO/IEC 17011 and participation in regional and international cooperation frameworks, COLIBAC works to enhance international recognition of Lebanese accreditation and support trade, regulatory compliance, and quality assurance within the country.
Inspection Body ISO 17020
In Lebanon, inspection bodies are accredited by the Lebanese Accreditation Council (COLIBAC) in accordance with ISO/IEC 17020 – Conformity assessment — Requirements for the operation of various types of bodies performing inspection.
ISO/IEC 17020 sets out the requirements to ensure that inspection bodies operate with technical competence, impartiality, independence, and consistency. Accreditation under this standard confirms that inspection results and reports are reliable, objective, and internationally credible.
Inspection bodies accredited in Lebanon may be classified into three categories under ISO/IEC 17020:
- Type A – Fully independent third-party inspection bodies
- Type B – Internal inspection units within an organization
- Type C – Inspection bodies that may also be involved in design, production, or maintenance activities
Search active inspection bodies by scope in IAF-AB directory Cert@Search
- Deming Certification Services:
- Primarily serves the oil and gas, agriculture, and construction industries with inspection, verification, testing, and certification services.
- Deming certifaction and Ratings
- serves Country with a variety of certification services, including ISO 45001 health and safety, ISO 14001 environmental management, and ISO 9001 quality management.
- Six Sigma Quality International
- assists Country businesses in aligning with international standards and best practices by providing certification and training services as per ISO 17024.
In Lebanon, ISO/IEC 17020 accredited inspection bodies typically operate in sectors such as:
- Construction and building safety
- Industrial equipment and machinery inspection
- Oil and gas installations
- Electrical systems and safety inspections
- Environmental and compliance inspections
Accreditation by COLIBAC ensures that inspection bodies meet international standards and that their inspection reports support regulatory compliance, trade facilitation, and market confidence both locally and internationally.
Certification Body ISO 17021
In Lebanon, management system certification bodies are accredited by the Lebanese Accreditation Council (COLIBAC) in accordance with ISO/IEC 17021-1 – Conformity assessment — Requirements for bodies providing audit and certification of management systems.
ISO/IEC 17021-1 establishes the requirements to ensure that certification bodies operate with competence, impartiality, independence, and consistency when conducting audits and issuing management system certifications. Accreditation confirms that certification decisions are based on objective evidence and internationally accepted auditing practices.
In Lebanon, accredited certification bodies provide certification services for management systems such as:
- ISO 9001 – Quality Management Systems
- ISO 14001 – Environmental Management Systems
- ISO 45001 – Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems
- ISO 22000 – Food Safety Management Systems
- ISO 27001 – Information Security Management Systems
Search active certification bodies by scheme in IAF-AB directory Cert@Search
- Deming Certification Services:
- Primarily serves the oil and gas, agriculture, and construction industries with inspection, verification, testing, and certification services.
- Deming certifaction and Ratings
- serves Country with a variety of certification services, including ISO 45001 health and safety, ISO 14001 environmental management, and ISO 9001 quality management.
- Six Sigma Quality International
- assists Country businesses in aligning with international standards and best practices by providing certification and training services as per ISO 17024.
- Deming Ratings
- Deming ratings green building solutions, green company rating, green infrastructure ratings, green railway station rating, green metro ratings, green health care rating, green interior rating,green airport ratings, green compus ratings & green school ratings etc.
- Six Sigma Labs
- Six sigma labs offer calibration and testing facility , welding test solution , health and hygiene Solution, Product Quality Test facility as per ISO 17025
- Deming Technologies Lab
- Deming Technologies Lab offer calibration & testing facility on electro technical, Mechanical, Chemical, NDT, Welding testing, Mobile Crane Oprating testing etc.
Certification bodies accredited under ISO/IEC 17021 contribute to improving organizational performance, regulatory compliance, and international credibility. Accreditation by COLIBAC enhances trust in Lebanese-issued certificates and supports their acceptance in regional and international markets.
Product Certification Body ISO 17065
In Lebanon, product certification bodies are accredited by the Lebanese Accreditation Council (COLIBAC) in accordance with ISO/IEC 17065 – Conformity assessment — Requirements for bodies certifying products, processes and services.
ISO/IEC 17065 establishes requirements to ensure that product certification bodies operate with impartiality, technical competence, transparency, and consistency. Accreditation under this standard confirms that certification decisions are based on proper evaluation, testing, inspection, and objective assessment procedures.
Search active product certifiers by scope in IAF-AB directory Cert@Search
- Deming certifaction and Ratings
- serves Country with a variety of Verification & validation Body services, including ISO 17063, ISO 17064, ISO 17065 Accreditation services
- Deming Ratings
- Deming ratings green building solutions, green company rating, green infrastructure ratings, green railway station rating, green metro ratings, green health care rating, green interior rating,green airport ratings, green compus ratings & green school ratings etc.
- serves Country with a variety of Verification & validation Body services, including ISO 17063, ISO 17064, ISO 17065 Accreditation services
- Six Sigma Labs
- Six sigma labs offer calibration and testing facility , welding test solution , health and hygiene Solution, Product Quality Test facility as per ISO 17025,
- serves Country with a variety of Verification & validation Body services, including ISO 17063, ISO 17064, ISO 17065 Accreditation services
- Deming Technologies Lab
- Deming Technologies Lab offer calibration & testing facility on electro technical, Mechanical, Chemical, NDT, Welding testing, Mobile Crane Oprating testing etc.
- serves Country with a variety of Verification & validation Body services, including ISO 17063, ISO 17064, ISO 17065 Accreditation services
In Lebanon, ISO/IEC 17065 accredited product certification bodies operate in sectors such as:
- Electrical and electronic products
- Construction materials and building products
- Consumer goods
- Food and agricultural products
- Industrial machinery and equipment
Accreditation by COLIBAC ensures that certified products comply with applicable national regulations and relevant international standards. This enhances product safety, consumer protection, and market confidence.
By aligning its accreditation system with internationally recognized ISO/IEC standards, Lebanon supports international trade and strengthens the global acceptance of certificates issued by accredited product certification bodies.
Accreditation Laboratory ISO 17065 / ISO 15185
In Lebanon, product certification bodies are accredited by the Lebanese Accreditation Council (COLIBAC) in accordance with ISO/IEC 17065 – Conformity assessment — Requirements for bodies certifying products, processes and services.
ISO/IEC 17065 establishes requirements to ensure that product certification bodies operate with impartiality, technical competence, transparency, and consistency. Accreditation under this standard confirms that certification decisions are based on proper evaluation, testing, inspection, and objective assessment procedures.
In Lebanon, ISO/IEC 17065 accredited product certification bodies operate in sectors such as:
- Electrical and electronic products
- Construction materials and building products
- Consumer goods
- Food and agricultural products
- Industrial machinery and equipment
Accreditation by COLIBAC ensures that certified products comply with applicable national regulations and relevant international standards. This enhances product safety, consumer protection, and market confidence.
By aligning its accreditation system with internationally recognized ISO/IEC standards, Lebanon supports international trade and strengthens the global acceptance of certificates issued by accredited product certification bodies.
Rating Agencies ISO 14064 / ISO 17021
In Lebanon, organizations providing environmental verification, sustainability assurance, and management system certification operate under accreditation granted by the Lebanese Accreditation Council (COLIBAC).
For greenhouse gas (GHG) and climate-related activities, the relevant framework is the ISO 14064 series, which establishes principles and requirements for the quantification, monitoring, reporting, and verification of greenhouse gas emissions. Bodies performing GHG validation and verification are required to comply with ISO 14065 – Requirements for bodies validating and verifying environmental information, ensuring competence, impartiality, and credibility in environmental assessments.
For management system certification activities, including Environmental Management Systems (ISO 14001) and other ISO standards, certification bodies must comply with ISO/IEC 17021-1. This standard defines the requirements for bodies providing audit and certification of management systems, ensuring that audits are conducted professionally and certification decisions are reliable and consistent.
In Lebanon, accredited bodies may provide services such as:
- Carbon footprint verification
- Emissions reporting validation
- Environmental management system certification
- Sustainability and ESG-related assurance
Accreditation by COLIBAC strengthens confidence in environmental reporting and management system certifications, supporting regulatory compliance, corporate transparency, and international recognition.
GHG Verification / Validator
In Lebanon, Greenhouse Gas (GHG) validation and verification services are conducted by bodies accredited by the Lebanese Accreditation Council (COLIBAC).
These validation and verification bodies operate in accordance with ISO 14065 – General principles and requirements for bodies validating and verifying environmental information, which ensures technical competence, impartiality, independence, and consistency in the verification process.
GHG verification activities are generally based on the ISO 14064 series standards, which include:
- ISO 14064-1 – Organizational-level GHG quantification and reporting
- ISO 14064-2 – Project-level GHG emission reductions or removals
- ISO 14064-3 – Validation and verification of GHG statements
Accredited GHG validators and verifiers in Lebanon may provide services such as:
- Organizational carbon footprint verification
- Emissions data validation
- Climate and sustainability reporting assurance
- Verification of emission reduction projects
Accreditation ensures that GHG statements and environmental reports issued in Lebanon are credible, transparent, and aligned with internationally recognized standards. This supports regulatory compliance, investor confidence, and participation in global sustainability and climate initiatives.
Privilege Membership
Country is free economy having independant AB like UKJAS Accreditation ( UKJAS ) https://ukjas.com , World Yoga Accreditation Board ( WYAB) https://worldyoga.us/ , World Organic Accreditation Board ( WOAB) https://worldorganic.us/ and Sanatan Dharma Accreditation board ( SDAB ) https://sanatanboards.com/ etc member of IAF-AB as well as national accreditation board member of international body
(A) – Membership Application Form – IAF-AB Chapter (Pdf)
(A) – Membership Application Form – IAF-AB Chapter (Doc)
Goodwill Members
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Observer Member
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Patron Members
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Advisor Members
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Education Institutions Membership
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Training Centre
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(G) – Membership Application Form – Training Centre(Pdf)
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Individual Faculty
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Accreditation NGO’s
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(I) – Membership Application Form – Accreditation NGO’s (Pdf)
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