SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities

Public Access to Museums Exhibition Spaces and Artifacts

Beirut Arab University

THE Impact Rankings Evidence Report Indicator 11 2 3

Question Does the University as a body provide public access to museums, exhibition spaces or galleries, and works of art and artifacts

Executive Assessment

Beirut Arab University can answer this indicator affirmatively and select Free access. The decisive evidence is the University's current Museum page, which expressly states that the Beirut Arab University Museum is open to the public and free of charge. The page identifies a permanent University museum, describes its collections and publishes an address, telephone extension and dedicated email for visitors.

Original evidence BAU Museum current public access page

The Museum also meets the substantive part of the indicator. It contains approximately 200 rare books and manuscripts spanning the eighth through nineteenth centuries and representing Egyptian-Pharaonic, Assyrian, Phoenician, Byzantine, Persian, Roman, Babylonian, Aramaic, Arab-Islamic and Ottoman heritage. These holdings are cultural artifacts, not ordinary classroom resources. Several are identified by BAU as unique copies unavailable elsewhere.

Recent implementation broadens the case. BAU opened the Museum in 2022; Lebanon's Minister of Culture inaugurated it and the institution was subsequently recognized on the national museums list. BAU also hosted a public photography exhibition in 2025 with published visiting dates and hours and delivered a three-day heritage-model exhibition in 2021 in partnership with UNESCO, UNFPA and UNODC.

Recommended Classification

SDG 11 and the Indicator Context

Sustainable Development Goal 11 seeks to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. The indicator connects most directly to SDG target 11.4, which calls for stronger efforts to protect and safeguard the world's cultural and natural heritage. Public access complements preservation by allowing communities, researchers and younger generations to encounter, interpret and learn from cultural collections.

Original evidence United Nations Goal 11 and target 11 4

Beirut Arab University and SDG 11: Fostering Sustainable Cities and Communities

Beirut Arab University (BAU) is actively contributing to SDG 11 through its research initiatives, academic programs, and campus sustainability efforts. The university is committed to promoting sustainable urban development, environmental protection, and community engagement.

Urban Planning and Architecture Programs:

BAU’s Faculty of Architecture – Design and Built Environment offers specialized academic programs in urban planning, sustainable architecture, and environmental design. These programs equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to address the challenges of urbanization and promote sustainable cities and communities.

Students at BAU are trained to design energy-efficient buildings, create sustainable urban plans, and integrate green spaces into city designs. The university emphasizes the importance of environmental sustainability, heritage preservation, and inclusive urban development in its curricula, preparing future professionals to contribute to Lebanon’s sustainable development goals.

Research on Sustainable Cities:

BAU conducts extensive research on urban sustainability, focusing on areas such as green infrastructure, disaster resilience, and sustainable mobility. The university’s research centers collaborate with local governments, NGOs, and international organizations to address urban challenges and develop innovative solutions for creating more sustainable cities.

Research projects at BAU have explored topics such as energy-efficient building design, the use of renewable energy in urban areas, and the impact of climate change on urban environments. These projects contribute to the national dialogue on urban sustainability and provide actionable recommendations for policymakers.

Sustainable Campus Initiatives:

BAU is committed to making its campus more sustainable and environmentally friendly. The university has implemented energy-saving measures, such as installing solar panels, reducing water consumption, and promoting waste recycling. These initiatives align with the goals of SDG 11 by creating a sustainable community on campus and setting an example for other institutions.

BAU’s Green Campus Initiative focuses on enhancing the sustainability of the university’s operations, improving the efficiency of resource use, and reducing its carbon footprint. The initiative includes projects aimed at greening the campus, such as creating green roofs, planting trees, and promoting sustainable transportation options for students and staff.

Community Engagement and Awareness:

BAU plays a key role in raising awareness about the importance of sustainable cities and communities. The university organizes workshops, seminars, and public awareness campaigns on topics such as urban planning, environmental protection, and waste management. These events are aimed at educating the public and encouraging local communities to adopt more sustainable practices.

BAU also works closely with local municipalities and community organizations on urban development projects. Through these partnerships, the university helps promote inclusive and sustainable urban development in Lebanon, supporting the goals of SDG 11.

Heritage Preservation Initiatives:

In line with SDG 11’s focus on cultural heritage, BAU is involved in heritage preservation projects, particularly in urban areas. The university collaborates with local authorities and organizations to protect and restore historic buildings and sites, ensuring that Lebanon’s cultural heritage is preserved for future generations.

BAU’s heritage preservation efforts are integrated into its architecture and urban planning programs, allowing students to participate in real-world projects that balance modern urban development with the conservation of historical sites.

Partnerships for Sustainable Development:

BAU collaborates with national and international organizations to advance sustainable cities and communities in Lebanon. The university partners with the United Nations, the Lebanese Ministry of Environment, and other institutions on projects aimed at promoting sustainable urban development, waste management, and disaster resilience.

These partnerships enable BAU to contribute to Lebanon’s national efforts to achieve SDG 11 and to play a key role in fostering sustainable and resilient communities across the country.

Lebanon faces significant challenges in achieving SDG 11 due to rapid urbanization, inadequate infrastructure, and environmental degradation. The government, through various ministries and local authorities, is working to address these issues by improving urban planning, enhancing transportation systems, and promoting sustainable communities. However, progress has been slowed by political instability, financial difficulties, and the impact of the 2020 Beirut Port explosion.

Beirut Arab University is actively contributing to SDG 11 through its academic programs, research initiatives, and sustainable campus practices. The university’s efforts in urban planning, environmental sustainability, and community engagement are helping to promote sustainable cities and communities in Lebanon, supporting national efforts to achieve this important goal.

Evidence Hierarchy

Core Qualifying Provision Beirut Arab University Museum

Explicit Public and Free Access

The current Museum page provides the strongest possible classification. It identifies the Beirut Arab University Museum and states that it is open to the public and free of charge. The wording is direct, current and attached to a permanent University facility. It therefore proves both public access and the correct access category without relying on inference from photographs or attendance at a one-off event.

Original evidence Current Museum access classification

Practical Visitor Information

BAU publishes the Museum's physical location at the Beirut Campus in Tarik El Jadida, a telephone number and extension, and a dedicated museum email address. These details make the public-access commitment operational because an external visitor can identify the venue and contact the University before visiting. The dedicated web page also presents a visual gallery of the exhibition environment and key displayed collections.

Original evidence Museum address contact details and visual archive

Access Facts

Works Artifacts and Cultural Collections

The Museum's rare books and manuscripts qualify as cultural artifacts because their value derives from their age, rarity, historical provenance and documentation of civilizations. BAU organizes the collection by cultural period and identifies representative holdings. This turns the Museum into both a public exhibition space and a research-oriented heritage repository.

Selected Collections Published by BAU

Original evidence BAU Museum collections catalogue

Prominent Museum Collections

Forms of Public Encounter

• Physical display of rare books and manuscripts in a dedicated museum environment.

• Curated interpretation through collection groupings by civilization and historical period.

• Digitized consultation that reduces handling of fragile originals while extending research access.

• A public web catalogue and photo gallery that prepare visitors and broaden awareness of the holdings.

National Recognition and Managed Access

Museum Opening in 2022

On 1 November 2022, Lebanon's Minister of Culture inaugurated the Museum in the presence of BAU leadership and public, diplomatic and educational representatives. BAU's official report describes the Museum as containing approximately 200 rare books and manuscripts from major civilizations and records that the collections date from the eighth through nineteenth centuries. Visitors toured the Museum at the conclusion of the opening.

Original evidence Official BAU report on the Museum opening

Opening of The Museum at Beirut Arab University

Earlier today, Judge Mohammad Wissam Al-Murtada, Minister of Culture, inaugurated the opening event of The Museum at Beirut Arab University, which is officially listed in the list of national museums as per the minister’s speech. The event was held in the presence of BAU President Professor Amr Galal El-Adawi, members of the Board of Trustees, as well as a crowd of political, diplomatic and educational representatives.

The Museum contains some 200 rare books and manuscripts, and the collections entail civilizations that have existed throughout history, particularly the Pharaonic-Egyptian civilization, Assyrian civilization, Phoenician civilization, Byzantine civilization, Persian civilization, Roman civilization, Babylonian civilization, Aramaic civilization, Arab & Islamic civilization, and Ottoman civilization.

These rare collections date back to the eighth century AD until the nineteenth century, noting that the rare books and manuscripts are unique copies that are not available elsewhere.

In celebration of the opening, Minister Al-Murtada delivered a speech, highlighting the importance of the role of universities as research centres as dynamic drivers in the development and evolution of knowledge.

In his speech, Minister Al-Murtada discussed the need for an Arab Union, pointing to the importance of Arab League Summit in Algeria. He said, "As we are gathering here today at the opening of this museum at the Beirut Arab University, Arab leaders are meeting with at the Arab League summit, endorsing the mere hope of reunion. Our hope for this summit is that Arab leaders can work hard on developing synergies among one another, successfully bringing Arab countries together in union. This reunion between Arabs will prove of great interest in culture, education and university research and will vastly impact the youth of these countries.”

Minister Al-Murtada continued, “Beirut Arab University is not just a university, and its museum is not only a display of historical ornaments but also an essential reminder of how this university shapes the future of education and culture. If museums are created to honor the past, universities are created to build the future. "

Minister Al-Murtada praised in his speech Beirut Arab University, saying, “BAU is an ambassador of education and knowledge enriching brain forces in the land of Cedars all the way from the Nile River. Today, the establishment of The Museum reminds us of Egypt’s richness lying in its history and culture and spread from the Valley of the Kings to the Delta, from Alexandria to Cairo, and from Sinai to the Upper Nile.”

In his speech, Minister Al-Murtada shed light on the importance of an educational development plan, where he said, “I make use of this occasion to emphasize that some Arab countries lack educational justice, because of many circumstances. Educational justice is a term that means securing the means of knowledge, especially modern ones, for every individual in Arab terretories. This requires national action through an inclusive educational and cultural development plan, which all our states should collaborate in writing, approving, funding and implementing. Will that take place in the near future? It is worth noting that the abundance of schools, institutes and universities alone does not secure such justice, unless accompanied by developing curricula and a deep understanding of the university's role as a research centre primarily, not only as a teaching centre, as well as of the role of education in the preparation of brains not only distribution of certificates.”

Concluding his speech, Minister Al-Murtada congratulated BAU for the opening of its museum, which he described as a cultural bridge between the past and the future.

In his speech, BAU President Professor Amr Galal El-Adawi, thanked Minister Al-Murtada for supporting this initiative, highlighting the university’s cultural and pioneering role in society. He said, “For the establishment of this museum, we complied and restored scarce manuscripts and books according to special heritage standards. These manuscripts are attributed to 17 civilizations and will be displayed alternately with respective electronic copies to allow researchers and students to discover their contents."

The ceremony host, Ms. Rima Chehab, mentioned that after long anticipation and delay due to the health and economic crises in the past years, the university’s museum of rare books and ancient manuscripts is finally ready for display, highlighting the fundamental role of the President in the founding of this historical and cultural project.

After the opening, Professor El-Adawi presented the university honorary shield to Minister Al-Murtada as a token of appreciation. At the end, attendees toured around The Museum.

Recognition on the National Museums List

The Lebanese National News Agency reported in April 2023 that the Minister of Culture decided to include the Beirut Arab University Museum on the national museums list after an inspection and a report from the Ministry's Museums Authority Committee. The report stated that the Museum met the relevant standards and displayed rare and valuable books, publications and manuscripts. This external public-sector recognition strengthens the case that BAU provides access to a culturally significant museum rather than merely a departmental display.

Original evidence National News Agency report on Museum recognition

Al-Murtada decides to include "Beirut Arab University Museum" on list of national museums

NNA - Caretaker Minister of Culture, Judge Muhammad Wissam Al-Murtada, issued a decision to include the "Beirut Arab University Museum" on the list of national museums.

Al-Murtada's decision came after he inspected the museum and upon receiving a report from the Museums Authority Committee at the Ministry of Culture, which indicated that the museum meets international standards that qualify it to be listed among national museums as it includes rare and precious books, publications and manuscripts.

Preservation Supports Sustainable Access

BAU reports that scarce books and manuscripts were restored to heritage standards and digitized before display. Its SDG 11 page describes controlled environmental conditions, protected display cases, continuous power arrangements and electronic consultation. It also states that the Museum is open on weekdays for students and visitors and that an employee assists users with digital screens. These controls reconcile public access with the long-term conservation required by SDG target 11.4.

Original evidence BAU SDG 11 preservation and visitor access evidence

Exhibition Spaces and Gallery Infrastructure

Al Multaqa Cultural and Art Center

The current Beirut Campus page identifies Al Multaqa as a specially designed center for cultural and art activities. The campus also contains a 300-seat festivities hall and five seminar rooms equipped with multimedia and display screens. These facilities give BAU the institutional capacity to host exhibitions, public lectures, artistic displays and cultural gatherings on campus.

Original evidence BAU Beirut Campus cultural and exhibition facilities

“Al Multaqa” Art and Cultural Center: The Beirut campus features Al Multaqa, a specially designed cultural center that hosts art exhibitions, literary events, and other cultural activities. This center, whose name means “The Gathering Place,” is open to the BAU community and often to the general public for events. It has become a hub for art shows, book signings, and musical performances on campus. While the Al Multaqa center itself is a modern facility (established in the late 2000s), it significantly enhances public cultural access by providing a dedicated space for the arts in the heart of Beirutbau.edu.lb. Exhibitions held here are frequently advertised to the public in advance, inviting art enthusiasts in Beirut to engage with works by students, faculty, and guest artists.

Institutional Delivery Mechanism

BAU's Public Relations and Communications Department provides the organizational mechanism for external cultural access. Its Events Unit coordinates conferences, workshops, seminars and exhibitions, while communications functions publicize events and support registration. The combination of a dedicated Museum, Al Multaqa and University event management demonstrates that access is institutionally organized rather than dependent on an individual member of staff.

Original evidence BAU Public Relations and Communications mandate

Public Relations and Communications

Evidence Boundary

• Permanent free public access is claimed for the BAU Museum because the current Museum page states it explicitly.

• Al Multaqa is presented as dedicated cultural infrastructure, not as a building that is continuously open without an event.

• Temporary exhibitions establish event-based public access during their published dates and hours.

• No fee is attributed to a temporary exhibition unless an official source expressly states one.

• The Free access selection rests on the permanent Museum and does not imply that every BAU event has identical access arrangements.

Recent Evidence Public Photography Exhibition in 2025

Fifty Years Since the Civil War

On 14 April 2025, BAU's Public Relations and Communications Department opened the photography exhibition Fifty Years Since the Civil War May It Neither Be Remembered Nor Repeated at the Beirut Campus. The exhibition presented 32 photographs by photojournalist Saleh Al-Rifai, most in black and white, documenting Lebanese streets, public squares, frontlines and crossings between divided areas during 1975 to 1990.

Original evidence Official BAU report on the 2025 photography exhibition

Fifty Years Since the Civil War May It Neither Be Remembered Nor Repeated A Photography Exhibition at Beirut Arab University

Fifty years have passed since the Lebanese Civil War, yet we continue to remember the victims, the wounded, and the missing. This commemoration is more than remembrance—it is a call to learn from the past. In this spirit, the Public Relations and Communications Department at Beirut Arab University hosted a photography exhibition by Mr. Saleh Al-Rifai, titled "Fifty Years Since the Civil War – May It Neither Be Remembered Nor Repeated." The title itself carries a message to future generations: the war was not just a chapter in history but a painful lesson from which we must draw wisdom to build a better future.

The exhibition features 32 black and white photographs, with two exceptions in color, symbolizing the war’s end and the dawn of reconstruction. Originally intended to include 50 photographs, the exhibition deliberately excluded images of fighters, bloodshed, and massacres due to their graphic nature.

Taken between 1975 and 1990, the photographs document streets and public squares before their destruction, scenes from the frontlines, and crossings between divided areas, capturing both the devastation and resilience of a nation.

The opening ceremony was attended by distinguished guests, including:

The Minister of National Defense General Michel Mnassa, represented by Brigadier General Ahmad Al-Lababidi; Minister of Culture Dr. Ghassan Salameh, represented by the Director General of the Ministry of Culture Dr. Ali Al-Samad; Mr. Omar Karakallah; President of the Lebanese Syndicate of Press Photographers Mr. Ali Allouch; President of the Lebanese Women's Council Mrs. Adla Siblini, represented by Mrs. Najwa Jamal; CEO of Al Iktissad Wal Aamal Group Mr. Raouf Abou Zaki; Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Al Bir wal Ihsan and the University’s Board of Trustees Dr. Ammar Houry; University President Professor Wael Nabil Abdel Salam; along with deans, directors, and a large audience.

The event began with the Lebanese national anthem, followed by the university anthem. Ms. Zina Ariss, Director of Public Relations and Communications, delivered a speech, stating:

War is, without a doubt, a tragic experience. I do not know if it has truly taught us the dangers of division. But what we do know what we are certain of is that wars are brutal, and it is the people who pay the price in blood, loss, and destruction."

She continued: "Let us stand together today and say: no to war, no to division, no to grieving mothers, and no to orphaned children. We stand for a sovereign, free, and independent Lebanon for all its citizens. That is why we declare: 'Fifty years since the civil war—may it neither be remembered nor repeated.'"

University President Professor Wael Nabil Abdel Salam stated in his speech:

"Today, as we mark this anniversary, we open a deeply sorrowful exhibition. These photographs, taken by Dr. Saleh Al-Rifai, Professor of Photographic Arts at the Lebanese University, over fifteen years of turmoil, are living testimonies to war’s horror and devastation. They speak of pain and loss, of courage and resilience, and of a hope that endured despite all odds."

He emphasized: "Now, more than ever, we must uphold tolerance and reconciliation, reject hatred and violence, and work tirelessly for the Lebanon its people dream of a sovereign, free, and united, resilient against division. This moment coincides with the inauguration of a new President, a new Prime Minister, and the dawn of a new era for Lebanon."

Professor Saleh Al-Rifai reflected:

"The Lebanese Civil War left behind countless photographs since its eruption on April 13, 1975 fifteen years of cyclical devastation, further scarred by the 1982 Israeli invasion, which reached from the southern borders to the capital."

He concluded with the words of American photographer Lewis Hine: ‘If I could say it in words, I wouldn’t have to photograph it.’ "A camera reveals what words cannot. In these images, I have poured all the fire that burned within me every time I raised my lens and pressed the shutter."

Following the speeches, attendees toured the exhibition accompanied by music commemorating the war. The exhibition will remain open until April 25, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Evidence of Public Access

BAU's official report records attendance by ministerial representatives, cultural and professional organizations, University leadership and a large audience. It also states that attendees toured the exhibition and publishes a continuing access period through 25 April 2025 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The combination of a large external audience, a defined multi-day period and public visiting hours is strong evidence of access to an exhibition space and works of photographic art.

Contribution to SDG 11

The exhibition used visual culture to preserve and interpret Lebanon's recent collective memory. It connected artistic display with public education, reconciliation and rejection of violence. The photographs therefore functioned both as works of art and documentary artifacts. Their public display shows how BAU uses its campus as a cultural venue for the wider community.

Access Classification for This Event

The official event page establishes public access and visiting hours but does not expressly state an admission fee or a free-admission clause. Accordingly, this report uses the exhibition as evidence of public access and artistic programming, while relying on the Museum's explicit wording for the Free access selection. This distinction avoids overstating the evidence.

Recent Evidence Public Heritage Exhibition in 2021

Beirut Miniature Model Art Exhibition

On 9 July 2021, BAU reported the inauguration of a three-day Beirut Miniature Model Art Exhibition at the Saint Nicolas Stairs in Gemmayzeh. The Faculty of Architecture Design and Built Environment delivered the exhibition with UNESCO, the United Nations Population Fund and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. BAU students and faculty produced architectural models of Beirut heritage buildings and interpreted their details for visitors.

Original evidence Official BAU report on the heritage-model exhibition

Faculty of Architecture Design and Built Environment Inaugurated Beirut Miniature Model Art Exhibition

The President of Beirut Arab University Prof. Amr Galal El – Adawi inaugurated “Beirut Miniature Model Art Exhibition to introduce Cultural Heritage to Children» that was launched by the Faculty of Architecture - Design and Built Environment in partnership with UNESCO, the United Nations Population Fund and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, at Saint Nicolas Stairs in Gemmayzeh Area.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Prof. Ibtihal El Bastawissi, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture - Design and Built Environment, Ms. Rony Sabbagh, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in Lebanon, Dr. Seiko Sugita, Programme specialist in social and human sciences at UNESCO Beirut, in addition to faculty deans and representatives of the United Nations Organizations, university professors and faculty students.

The three day exhibition took place after the great efforts performed by the Faculty of Architecture- Design and Built Environment team for a period of six months to provide a large number of architectural miniatures of heritage buildings in Beirut with the contribution of the Urban Laboratory. These models were in high quality and accurate showing the architectural details of these buildings.

The faculty students and professors supervising the exhibition accompanied visitors in their tours, introduced them to the displayed models and explained the architectural details that characterize the heritage buildings of Beirut. They also gave souvenirs to children inspired by the main objective of the exhibition. Souvenirs consist from collections of facades in which the child can assemble by himself to recreate one of the models of heritage buildings for the identity of Beirut City.

Professor Amr Galal El- Adawi, President of Beirut Arab University, congratulated the working group under the supervision of Professor Ibtihal El Bastawissi, the Dean of the Faculty, in preparing for this exhibition, which embodies the real message of the University and its pioneering role in serving the Lebanese society in general and the people of Beirut in particular, through this project that enhances the social role of the architect in spreading the culture of preserving the architectural and urban heritage of the city.

Public Engagement with Works and Artifacts

The exhibition was placed in a public urban setting rather than behind a campus-only boundary. BAU reports that students and faculty accompanied visitors on tours, explained the models and provided children with facade components that could be assembled to recreate heritage buildings. The works were therefore not passive displays: they were educational artifacts through which the public could encounter Beirut's architectural identity.

External Corroboration

UNESCO separately documented the exhibition within the Li Beirut recovery initiative. UNESCO described a three-day event at the Saint Nicolas Stairs that reimagined the colors and memories of damaged Beirut architecture for Lebanese children. This independent account corroborates the location, duration, public character and cultural purpose of BAU's exhibition.

Original evidence UNESCO account of the BAU exhibition

In Beirut, a BAU exhibition revives damaged architecture for Lebanese children

At the heart of a historic area damaged by the Beirut blasts, the “Beirut Miniature Model Art Exhibition” of the Beirut Arab University has revived the Lebanese capital by reimagining its colors and memories over the course of 3 days, at the Saint Nicolas stairs in Gemmayze. It allowed children to enhance awareness to their cultural heritage and develop their emotional attachment to the territory of Beirut, by exposing them to miniature Beirut buildings developed by BAU students, and through the construction of cognitive maps and the use of spatial maps designed in a game environment.

The exhibition is an outcome of the initiative led by the BAU faculty of Architecture-Design & Built Environment to develop children's emotional attachment to the city of Beirut following the blasts, and is supported by UNODC, UNESCO and UNFPA, as part of UNODC’s Education4Justice programme and UNESCO's Li Beirut initiative.

Partners, NGOs, students, teachers and parents gathered in Gemmayze to discover the colorful displays which restore Beirut to its former beauty. A Ribbon Cutting celebration was also held in presence of the BAU president Dr. Amr Galal El-Adawi and representatives from UNODC and UNESCO.

During the exhibition, more than 70 children from the affected area explored the models and interacted with a creative game board with 3D physical models for specific neighborhoods and historic damaged buildings in Beirut, that was designed to stimulate the spatial thinking of children as a coping strategy after the traumatic event. Children also colored an illustration that depicts the Beirut blasts, solidarity and resilience to convey positive and empowering messages.

As part of the project, 45 children had also been invited to a workshop at the BAU lab and Karantina garden in Beirut, in collaboration with NGO “Himaya Daeem Aataa”, and were engaged in different activities. Each child created his/her own neighborhood using the materials of the game board including folded papers and landscape elements. The children also explored the large-scale model of selected heritage buildings in Beirut.

Earlier in April, 225 teachers of art and sciences had attended an online webinar and were trained on how to use the designed maps and models with students to improve the pedagogical practice, by integrating spatial thinking in their classes.

Evidence Timeline and Access

Evidence Matrix

Indicator Mapping

Submission Conclusion

Beirut Arab University provides public access to museums, exhibition spaces, works of art and artifacts. Its permanent core provision is the Beirut Arab University Museum at the Beirut Campus. The University's current Museum page expressly states that the facility is open to the public and free of charge, while publishing its address, telephone extension and dedicated visitor email.

The Museum contains approximately 200 rare books and manuscripts dating from the eighth through nineteenth centuries and representing major civilizations. BAU opened the Museum in November 2022, and public-sector recognition followed through its inclusion on Lebanon's national museums list. BAU also documents weekday visitor access, staff assistance, digitized consultation and preservation controls that sustain access without exposing fragile originals to unnecessary handling.

Recent exhibitions confirm that BAU's commitment extends beyond a single facility. In April 2025, the University hosted a multi-day photography exhibition on the Lebanese Civil War, published continuing visiting hours and recorded a large external audience touring 32 historical photographs. In July 2021, BAU and United Nations partners delivered a three-day exhibition at the Saint Nicolas Stairs where visitors and children engaged with architectural models of Beirut heritage buildings.

Original Evidence Register

The following original University, United Nations and public-sector pages support the report and are provided for direct reviewer verification.