Airport terminal
contract annulled

Cancellation comes in response

to public outrage citing law violation

One week after announcing a $122 million project to build a second terminal at the Beirut Rafik Hariri International Airport, caretaker Minister of Public Works and Transport Ali Hamieh said he declares the contract null and void in light of the legal controversy that has arisen regarding the deal.

A number of lawmakers, political parties, and non-governmental organizations had raised concerns over the lack of transparency regarding the way the deal was awarded which was done without launching a tender and without involving the Public Procurement Authority.

The legal validity of the revoked contract was based on a law issued in 1974 instead of the public procurement law of 2021.

During the announcement ceremony of the deal last week, Hamieh said that the cost of the Terminal 2 project will be borne by the private sector through the Lebanese Air Transport (LAT) and that the terminal will be operated by the Irish airport management company daa International.