In 2009 the real estate industry in Lebanon witnessed another year of promising growth and continued to represent an integral part of the economy. Despite a slight drop in total transactions, construction activity remained robust with increasing numbers of permits issued and a steady growth in cement deliveries, a major real estate indicator in the country. With lending proving to be a challenge in 2009 — particularly in over-indebted real estate markets such as Dubai — Lebanese banks have been offering incentives to the sector since the second half of 2009 in the form of improved lending conditions for both locals and expatriates. As a result, demand on housing is expected to increase in 2010, especially in the middle-income segment of the market. Real estate growth Due to the lack of official figures, the industry is forced to rely on indicators to measure activity in the sector. According to
