Is Lebanon Getting a New Ski Resort? Here’s What to Know

Lebanon’s ski crowd is buzzing about Summit Ski, a new resort promising to be just 30 minutes from Beirut. (For context, it’s Monday morning, and it just took some of us 30 minutes to get from Hamra to…Hamra.)

The Buzz Around Summit

Billed as a luxury escape from developer Murr Group, Summit Ski Resort is slated for the snowy peaks of Zaarour, with ads teasing slopes reaching 2,001 meters above sea level. Its social media feed is a tempting mix of snowy chalets, paragliding, après-ski cocktails, and…of course, padel courts to boot. The project’s website is already collecting sign-ups from eager skiers and chalet hoarders.

But before you plan your winter getaway, there’s a significant off-piste reality to consider.

Environmental Roadblocks

In response to an inquiry from the environmental NGO TERRE Liban, the Ministry of Environment Tamara el Zein has reportedly confirmed on August 12, 2025, that the project currently lacks an approved Environmental Impact Assessment or even a preliminary environmental study. This is a mandatory first step for any such project under Decree 8633/2012.

The ministry also reiterated that no construction can move forward until all legal and environmental conditions are met. Complicating matters further is Lebanon’s national land-use plan (Decree 2366/2009), which designates any land above 1,900 meters as a “Natural Peaks” zone. In these zones, construction is largely banned, with rare exceptions for military facilities.

Why It Matters for Lebanon’s Mountains

Lebanon’s mountains have long been treated as a free-for-all by some private developers. They bulldoze forests, dump rubble, or build on protected peaks and shores with little fear of consequences. From unlicensed quarries chewing through hillsides to resorts carving into fragile mountains, environmental law here is often more suggestion than rule. And the fines, if or when they come, are pocket change compared to the profits.

Without steady watchdog pressure (such as TERRE Liban) and an actual enforcement plan, projects like Summit risk joining a long list of ventures that chip away at what’s left of the country’s wild spaces.

For now, prospective skiers and environmental watchers should follow updates from both the the developer’s website and TERRE Liban to see if this summit can truly be reached.

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