Retail rents rise in
key commercial areas

Prices range from $180 to $400 per square meter

Rental rates and prices for retail space in Beirut and nearby areas rose in 2025 as improving economic sentiment and limited supply pushed demand higher, according to a new study by InfoPro Research featured in the newly published Winter 2026 issue of Lebanon Opportunities.

Demand for ground retail space suitable for shops, restaurants, cafés, and other commercial uses has been rising as business activity gradually recovers. However, the lack of bank lending has pushed many entrepreneurs toward renting rather than buying property. The credit crunch has also slowed development projects, limiting the supply of new commercial space.

This supply-demand imbalance has contributed to higher rents across key commercial districts.

According to the survey, the most expensive retail locations in Beirut include Foch Street, Ain Al Mraiseh, Badaro, Saifi, and Sodeco. Annual rental rates in these areas range from about $275–$375 per square meter in Sodeco to $350–$400 in Foch Street and Ain Mreisseh.

In suburban districts, the priciest locations include Antelias, Jnah, Broummana, Horsh Tabet, and Zalka. Rental rates there range from $180-$230 per square meter in Zalka to $300–$350 in Antelias.

Real estate brokers say rental rates and sales prices increased by roughly 20 percent in 2025 compared with 2024, though they remain ten to 20 percent below pre-crisis levels.

Rising rents are affecting not only new contracts but also older leases, as property owners gradually apply Lebanon’s revised commercial rent law, which allows rents to increase progressively over five years.

Market activity remains uneven. Most demand comes from food and beverage businesses such as restaurants and cafés, which brokers estimate account for up to 80 percent of total demand for retail space. Sales activity, by contrast, remains weak due to political uncertainty, high prices, and the absence of bank credit.

Looking ahead, analysts say that if political and economic conditions continue to improve while credit remains scarce, the mismatch between rising demand and limited supply could push retail property prices even higher.

InfoPro’s Retail Real Estate Pricing Guide surveyed developers, real estate companies, and property owners to estimate rental rates and sales prices of retail space in Beirut, Baabda, Metn, and Kesrouan. The figures represent average approximate prices after peer review and validation by property consultants, the firm said, noting that individual property values can vary widely depending on location, deed conditions, amenities, and other factors.