Brand Lebanon

Beauty is Not Expensive, Ugliness Is

Lebanon is naturally breathtaking. From its mountains to its beaches, from ancient ruins to lively streets, this country has every reason to be one of the most visually stunning destinations in the world.

But instead of letting Lebanon’s beauty shine, we’ve buried it under layers of neglect, visual pollution, and chaos.

Here’s the good news: We don’t need billions of dollars, skyscrapers by global architects, or mega-projects to fix this.

We need vision, law, art, and a cultural movement to bring back beauty to Lebanon.

What Other Countries Have Done, And What Lebanon Can Learn

Paris & Rome: Strict bans on ugly billboards and unregulated advertising.
Lisbon & Barcelona: Turning old, decaying walls into massive, government-approved murals.
Athens & Istanbul: Transforming public spaces with flags, flowers, and poetry on the streets.
Bogotá & Medellín: Community-driven clean-up and street art projects that transformed entire neighborhoods.

Lebanon can do the same, with simple, actionable initiatives.

10 Ways to Instantly Make Lebanon More Beautiful… For Free

1. Ban Political Posters & Replace Them with Art & Culture

Why does every wall in Lebanon belong to politicians? Instead of letting political faces pollute our streets, we should:
Ban political posters in public spaces (except for official election periods).
Encourage street artists to turn walls into murals celebrating Lebanese culture, history, and poetry.
Feature Lebanese painters and calligraphers to add beauty to urban landscapes.

Example: In Lisbon, the city government sponsors artists to paint historical murals instead of allowing ads.

• Restore Lebanon’s Flag as the Only National Symbol in Public Spaces

Imagine every street, every roundabout, every bridge covered in Lebanese flags instead of sectarian banners.
Launch a “Raise the Lebanese Flag” campaign, where businesses and citizens display the national flag instead of party flags.
Install large, well-maintained Lebanese flags in public squares and historical sites.
Schools, hotels, and institutions should display the flag as a symbol of unity, not division.

Example: Turkey does this better than anyone, walk through Istanbul, and all you see is Turkish flags, no political banners.

• Clean & Beautify Sidewalks with Flowers & Green Spaces

A few trees, some potted plants, and flowers can transform a neighborhood.
Ban illegal sidewalk parking and turn sidewalks into walkable, green spaces.
Allow residents and businesses to plant flowers outside their homes and shops.
Introduce a “Neighborhood Beauty Challenge”, the most beautiful street wins a public recognition award.

Example: Bogotá, Colombia, reduced crime and boosted tourism simply by adding flowers and trees to urban streets.

• Control Advertising & Remove Billboard Pollution

Lebanon’s streets are drowning in ugly, outdated billboards.
Regulate billboard placement, no more random ads on bridges, highways, or historical sites.
Create design rules for signs, billboards should be minimalist, clean, and well-maintained.
Replace ugly billboard-covered bridges with national art, flags, or greenery.

Example: France banned excessive billboards in heritage zones and replaced them with city-sponsored art projects.

• Launch a National Street Art & Poetry Initiative

Art transforms public spaces. Let’s turn Beirut, Tripoli, Sidon, and Byblos into outdoor art galleries.
Designate free public walls for professional artists and students to paint murals.
Install poetry walls in neighborhoods, featuring works from Gibran, Said Akl, and local poets.
Turn abandoned buildings into canvases for cultural storytelling.

Example: Medellín, Colombia, used street art to erase crime-ridden pasts and create tourist hotspots.

• Clean Lebanon’s Beaches & Install Public Art Along the Coastline

Lebanon’s beaches should be our pride, not our landfills.
Launch a nationwide volunteer program for coastal clean-ups.
Install public benches, mosaic art, and poetry walls along the Corniche in Beirut, Jounieh, and Batroun.
Prevent ugly concrete structures from blocking Lebanon’s natural coastline views.

Example: Spain turned its coastal boardwalks into outdoor art spaces, making beaches more inviting for locals and tourists.

• Enforce Strict Building Aesthetics in Heritage Areas

Old Lebanese villages should not be ruined by unregulated modern buildings.
Implement heritage protection laws to maintain architectural harmony.
Offer grants for homeowners to restore and repaint traditional Lebanese houses.
Convert abandoned buildings into cultural centers, libraries, or public parks instead of leaving them to decay.

Example: In Byblos, historical preservation laws keep the town looking like a postcard from the past.

• Install Nighttime Lighting to Enhance Lebanon’s Beauty

A well-lit city looks safer, cleaner, and more inviting.
Light up historical sites, bridges, and key streets with modern LED designs.
Create a nighttime lighting plan for Beirut, Tripoli, and Zahle to highlight landmarks.
Encourage businesses to install warm, aesthetic lights instead of harsh white LEDs.

Example: Paris is called the City of Lights because lighting is part of its city design. Lebanon can do the same.

• Ban Random Generator Wires & Organize Electricity Poles

Lebanon’s skyline is ruined by tangled electricity wires.
Force electric companies to clean up and organize their wiring.
Introduce underground electricity grids in major cities.
Paint electricity boxes with murals or poetry instead of leaving them rusting and dirty.

Example: Tokyo and Singapore organized their city wiring, making streets look clean and modern.

1. Create a “Make Lebanon Beautiful” Volunteer Program

If we wait for the government, nothing will change. People must take action.
Launch a nationwide campaign for youth & businesses to adopt streets and neighborhoods.
Organize monthly clean-up and beautification events in every region.
Partner with schools, artists, and NGOs to sustain urban beautification.

Example: Italy has a citizen-driven “Adopt a Street” program, residents take care of their own neighborhoods, making cities feel more personal.

Lebanon Can Be Beautiful Again, If We Choose to Fix It

We don’t need billions of dollars or fancy urban planners. We need basic pride, smart regulations, and cultural initiatives.

Which of these ideas should Lebanon start with first? Comment below!