Beirut Arab University
Free Public Access to Open and Green Spaces

SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
THE indicator 11 2 4

Updated evidence report | Reviewed 15 October 2026. Activities and developments are reviewed across 2021–2026. Policies, memoranda and agreements are retained regardless of date. Current undated operational pages are labelled accordingly.

Question and principal finding

Does Beirut Arab University, as a body, provide free public access to open spaces and green spaces?

BAU documents landscaped grounds, visitor entry procedures, organised community visits and municipal cooperation on public spaces. However, the original policies and activity records reviewed do not establish whether members of the general public can use specified campus green spaces without an admission fee, or when that access is available. Permanent free public access should therefore remain unconfirmed in the submission until a direct access statement or equivalent operational evidence is supplied.

Evidence: BAU Safety and Security Policy (PDF page 1; ID card procedure)

SDG 11 and the indicator

SDG target 11.7 seeks inclusive access to safe public and green spaces. THE indicator 11.2.4 assesses free public access to university open and green spaces, distinguishing permanent and occasional availability. Landscape size, environmental research and student access provide context, but do not by themselves establish the public access condition. The published 2026 methodology uses 2024 as its reference year. Later evidence is retained here within the requested review window; final selections should match the applicable submission cycle.

Evidence: UN Sustainable Development Goal 11 (Target 11.7)

Evidence: THE Sustainability Impact Ratings Methodology 2026 (PDF page 101; printed page 126)

Original policies governing outdoor areas and visitors

E1 Open Space Policy and Procedures

BAU’s published policy covers outdoor green areas and indoor office plants. It describes planted grounds and requires regular maintenance. Its conduct rules expressly include visitors alongside students, staff, alumni and contractors. Motor vehicles are excluded from lawns; damaging vegetation is prohibited; sports are directed to designated fields. General Affairs may restrict lawns or green areas for maintenance or other conditions. These provisions establish management of outdoor areas and expected visitor conduct. They do not specify a public entry entitlement, a fee waiver or public opening hours.

Evidence: Original BAU Open Space Policy and Procedures (PDF page 1; procedures 1–5; undated policy)

E2 Identification and entry at campus gates

The Safety and Security Policy requires BAU identification at the gates. Temporary IDs may be issued to people without their university cards or to people presenting a valid reason to enter. The policy also provides security coverage throughout the year. This is evidence of a controlled visitor process. It does not define whether recreational use of green spaces qualifies as a valid reason, or identify an admission charge. Continuous security coverage is not a statement of continuous public opening.

Evidence: Original BAU Safety and Security Policy (PDF page 1; security presence and ID cards)

E3 Current policy publication and responsibility

BAU’s Services and Procedures page publishes the security, facilities and open space policies together. It states that students, staff, alumni and visitors follow campus safety and order procedures. This provides a public route to the governing documents. General Affairs is the operational department identified in the open space and parking policies, making it the appropriate source for a definitive statement of outdoor access conditions.

Evidence: BAU Campus Services and Procedures (Current undated policy directory)

E4 Parking access and its separate charges

The Facilities and Equipment Policy expressly allows the public to use BAU’s public car park for daily or monthly fees. Its public parking procedures give a main gate schedule of 6 AM to midnight and a secondary gate schedule of 7 AM to 5 PM. These are parking arrangements. They cannot establish pedestrian admission hours or a charge for visiting lawns and gardens. Equally, paid parking alone would not disprove a separately documented free pedestrian access arrangement.

Evidence: Original BAU Facilities and Equipment Policy (PDF pages 1–2; public parking provisions)

The access assessment therefore separates admission to campus, permission to use an outdoor area and payment for an optional service. A restriction for maintenance can coexist with routine public access, but the routine access arrangement must first be documented.

Open and green spaces across the campus network

E5 Beirut Campus green areas

The current Beirut Campus profile reports a land area of 41,107 m² and separately identifies 18,000 m² of green areas. The site also contains cultural, sporting and student facilities. This is direct university evidence that a substantial landscaped resource exists within an urban campus. The profile does not state the area available to unaffiliated visitors or its access hours. The 18,000 m² figure should therefore be described as the university’s reported green area, not as verified freely accessible public parkland.

Evidence: BAU Beirut Campus (Current undated campus profile)

E6 Debbieh Campus and open air facilities

BAU reports a total site area of 1,353,000 m² at Debbieh. The campus profile identifies an open theatre, a mosque, academic buildings, accommodation and other facilities. It establishes the presence of outdoor infrastructure in a large campus setting. The total site area is not a measurement of green space or public access. No inference is made that the whole estate is available to walkers, that its boundary is unfenced or that the mosque establishes free access to surrounding gardens.

Evidence: BAU Debbieh Campus (Current undated campus profile)

E7 Tripoli Campus and the adjacent park proposal

The Tripoli profile locates the campus in Basateen Al Mina and reports 15,540 m² of land. This campus should be distinguished from land adjacent to it covered by the 2019 public park agreement. A public park beside a university and the university’s own grounds may have different ownership, management and admission arrangements. The campus profile does not establish free public garden access within the university boundary.

Evidence: BAU Tripoli Campus (Current undated campus profile)

E8 Bekaa Campus and environmental research

The Bekaa profile reports a site of 183,391 m² and a built area of 1,650 m², with locations allocated to the Research Center for Environment and Development and the Alumni Club. These figures describe the estate and its functions. They do not establish that all remaining land is landscaped, suitable for recreation or open to the general public. Research plots and managed environmental facilities require their own access evidence.

Evidence: BAU Bekaa Campus (Current undated campus profile)

These four profiles replace reliance on general descriptions or third party campus statistics. They establish the physical setting for potential public access, while leaving the eligibility, fee and opening arrangements to the relevant operational policy.

Recent evidence of community visits and participation

E9 Children invited to Debbieh in 2021

BAU’s Annual Report 2020–2021 records that children were invited to Debbieh Campus on 10 April 2021 for activities within a community rehabilitation project following the Beirut port explosion. This demonstrates organised access by community participants during the review period. The account does not specify the outdoor areas used, the admission conditions or the cost. It supports a community visit claim rather than a permanent free green space claim.

Evidence: BAU Annual Report 2020–2021 (PDF page 39; printed page 76)

E10 School visits and annual Open Doors

BAU’s current orientation page provides a route for schools to request tailored campus visits, asking for advance notice where possible. It also describes annual Open Doors opportunities at Beirut, Debbieh and Tripoli. The separate Open Doors page includes campus tours and activities with university students and staff. These establish an ongoing visitor programme for school groups. They do not state unrestricted public access to gardens or a no fee rule for recreational visits.

Evidence: BAU Orientation for Prospective Students (Current undated visitor programme)

Evidence: BAU Open Doors (Campus tours and visiting school students)

Orientation for Prospective Students

E11 External school participants at Debbieh in 2024

The Faculty of Science records a computer science summer camp at Debbieh on 9–12 July 2024, attended by 50 high school students from southern Lebanon. The original announcement is dated 12 July 2024. It provides a concrete recent example of external educational participants entering campus. The record concerns technical learning and does not state that participants or the wider public received free use of campus lawns or gardens.

Evidence: BAU Building Apps Yourself summer camp in 2024

Computer Science Summer Camp BAU Building Apps Yourself

Computer Science Summer Camp entitled BAU “Building Apps Yourself” at Debbieh Campus from July 9th till 12th,2024. Led by the Math & Computer Science Department, the Camp was designed to unlock the coding potentials of High School Students Grades 10, 11 & 12. Attended by 50 high school students from south Lebanon, the summer camp gave an opportunity for students to embark on an exciting journey into web and mobile development. They gained hands-on experience in HTML, CSS, MIT App Inventor and did a summative exercise where they built their own website. This summer camp enriched students with technical and problem-solving skills and gave them exposure to higher education allowing early major exploration. In addition, it helped attract talent and strengthened the university’s outreach and community engagement.

E12 Continued community participation in 2025

BAU’s Faculty of Science, Admission Office and BAU Life Chapter organised an AI summer camp at Debbieh on 5–7 August 2025. The account identifies eleven high school participants and eight student volunteers. It documents continued organised access and a student contribution to outreach. No outdoor recreation entitlement or admission fee arrangement is specified, so this example is retained as supporting visitor evidence only.

Evidence: BAU AI summer camp in 2025 (Original announcement dated 7 August 2025)

A Cooperation Agreement between Al Mina Municipality and BAU to turn the land adjacent to the university branch into a public park

The President of Beirut Arab University Prof. Amr Galal El- Adawi and the President of Al-Mina Municipality Council Abdel Kader Alameddine signed a cooperation agreement covering infrastructure and the surrounding area of BAU Branch in Al Mina. The President of Al-Mina Municipality Council spoke about the nature of this agreement saying "This is not the first agreement of cooperation between the Municipality and BAU. Our cooperation began since laying the foundation stone for the establishment of BAU Tripoli Branch in Al-Mina City. We believe in BAU’s role to raise the status of the city and our relationship with BAU has developed during the era of former Secretary General late Mr. Issam Houri. Also, we have always been able to meet the university demands concerning the building, investment and licensing.” He added, “We are proud today to sign an agreement of cooperation regarding the establishment of the public park near the university campus which will be a public common for BAU students and Al Mina people.” BAU President Prof. Amr Galal El -Adawi maintained, "Today we signed an agreement, which is the first of its kind to turn the land adjacent to the university branch into a park of public interest for Al Mina people and BAU students.” He added, “Our presence here is not limited to this distinctive educational facility in Lebanon and the Middle East. It includes our vision of being partners with the people of Tripoli, Al Mina and the North to create a success story not only at the educational level but also for the development of the city. BAU Branch in Al Mina was established nine years ago, and since then the region has been significantly developed and many job opportunities have been open for the people in the North as most of the BAU academic and administrative staff members and professors are from Tripoli and the North. This was reflected in the university labour needs which we emphasized to be limited to the people of the region so they feel we are here to achieve development goals in addition to educational issues.” On the other hand, and within the framework of the Signing Ceremony, a gathering was held between the President of BAU Prof. Amr Galal El- Adawi and the Northern figures: Former Prime minister Najib Mikati represented by Mokbel Malak, Minister of State for Economic Empowerment for Women and Youth Ms. Violette Khairallah Safadi represented by Ms. Nadine Ali, M.P. Dr. Ali Darwich, M.P. Jean Obeid represented by Mr. Elie Obeid, Ministers and Former Deputies Dr. Ahmad Fatfat, Mohamad Safadi represented by Mr. Ahmad Safadi, Mr. Omar Miskawi, Election Candidate for Tripoli Ms. Dima Jamali, Mayor of Tripoli Municipality Eng. Ahmad Kamareddine, the President of Al Mina Municipality Council Abdel Kader Alameddine, The Head of the Educational Area Ms. Nahla Hamaty, and the Director General of Water in the North Dr. Khaled Obeid. BAU President Prof. Amr Galal El- Adawi delivered a speech emphasizing on the role of universities in spreading the social awareness and services in addition to their role in educating people. He mentioned the importance of establishing BAU Tripoli Campus in helping the Northern students to maintain education. In addition, he spoke on the high standards of education provided by Beirut Arab University at the five current faculties at the Campus. Moreover, he mentioned that BAU works on the student’s personality that serves the community and can builds success stories despite the difficult economic situation Lebanon faces. The gathering was culminated by a lunch included BAU and all distinguished guests.

Organised visits can help substantiate occasional access when a named open area and its free admission terms are documented. The records above establish participation, but do not supply those additional conditions. The absence of a stated fee is not treated as proof that admission was free.

Municipal partnerships and public space participation

E13 Al Mina public park agreement signed in 2019

On 12 March 2019, BAU and Al Mina Municipality signed an agreement concerning land adjacent to the Tripoli branch. The university’s original announcement describes a proposed public park for both BAU students and Al Mina residents. This is relevant institutional cooperation on public open space and is retained under the rule allowing agreements of any date. The signing account does not verify construction, opening, current management, public hours or admission charges. It should be described as an agreement to create a shared park, pending implementation evidence.

Evidence: Original BAU Al Mina cooperation announcement (12 March 2019; agreement evidence without a date restriction)

A Cooperation Agreement between Al Mina Municipality and BAU to turn the land adjacent to the university branch into a public park

The President of Beirut Arab University Prof. Amr Galal El- Adawi and the President of Al-Mina Municipality Council Abdel Kader Alameddine signed a cooperation agreement covering infrastructure and the surrounding area of BAU Branch in Al Mina. The President of Al-Mina Municipality Council spoke about the nature of this agreement saying "This is not the first agreement of cooperation between the Municipality and BAU. Our cooperation began since laying the foundation stone for the establishment of BAU Tripoli Branch in Al-Mina City. We believe in BAU’s role to raise the status of the city and our relationship with BAU has developed during the era of former Secretary General late Mr. Issam Houri. Also, we have always been able to meet the university demands concerning the building, investment and licensing.” He added, “We are proud today to sign an agreement of cooperation regarding the establishment of the public park near the university campus which will be a public common for BAU students and Al Mina people.” BAU President Prof. Amr Galal El -Adawi maintained, "Today we signed an agreement, which is the first of its kind to turn the land adjacent to the university branch into a park of public interest for Al Mina people and BAU students.” He added, “Our presence here is not limited to this distinctive educational facility in Lebanon and the Middle East. It includes our vision of being partners with the people of Tripoli, Al Mina and the North to create a success story not only at the educational level but also for the development of the city. BAU Branch in Al Mina was established nine years ago, and since then the region has been significantly developed and many job opportunities have been open for the people in the North as most of the BAU academic and administrative staff members and professors are from Tripoli and the North. This was reflected in the university labour needs which we emphasized to be limited to the people of the region so they feel we are here to achieve development goals in addition to educational issues.” On the other hand, and within the framework of the Signing Ceremony, a gathering was held between the President of BAU Prof. Amr Galal El- Adawi and the Northern figures: Former Prime minister Najib Mikati represented by Mokbel Malak, Minister of State for Economic Empowerment for Women and Youth Ms. Violette Khairallah Safadi represented by Ms. Nadine Ali, M.P. Dr. Ali Darwich, M.P. Jean Obeid represented by Mr. Elie Obeid, Ministers and Former Deputies Dr. Ahmad Fatfat, Mohamad Safadi represented by Mr. Ahmad Safadi, Mr. Omar Miskawi, Election Candidate for Tripoli Ms. Dima Jamali, Mayor of Tripoli Municipality Eng. Ahmad Kamareddine, the President of Al Mina Municipality Council Abdel Kader Alameddine, The Head of the Educational Area Ms. Nahla Hamaty, and the Director General of Water in the North Dr. Khaled Obeid. BAU President Prof. Amr Galal El- Adawi delivered a speech emphasizing on the role of universities in spreading the social awareness and services in addition to their role in educating people. He mentioned the importance of establishing BAU Tripoli Campus in helping the Northern students to maintain education. In addition, he spoke on the high standards of education provided by Beirut Arab University at the five current faculties at the Campus. Moreover, he mentioned that BAU works on the student’s personality that serves the community and can builds success stories despite the difficult economic situation Lebanon faces. The gathering was culminated by a lunch included BAU and all distinguished guests.

E14 Saida memorandum signed in September 2026

On 25 September 2026, BAU’s Faculty of Architecture, Design and Built Environment signed a three year memorandum with Saida Municipality. The university will provide technical support, surveys and design studies, including proposals for public squares, parks and open spaces. Selected graduation projects and research will address urban challenges in Saida. The municipality will supply data, facilitate fieldwork and cooperate in securing project funding. This is a recent commitment to public realm development. Completed parks and free entry cannot be inferred from the memorandum alone.

Evidence: BAU Saida urban cooperation memorandum (25 September 2026)

Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding Between Beirut Arab University and the Municipality of Saida to Enhance Urban Cooperation

The Dean of the Faculty of Architecture – Design & Built Environment at Beirut Arab University Professor Hassan Abdel-Salam signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding with the Mayor of Saida Engineer Mustafa Hijazi. The agreement aims to foster mutual cooperation in urban planning, design, and heritage conservation, thereby contributing to sustainable development and the improvement of urban and service conditions in the city of Saida.

This MoU reflects the university’s commitment to strengthening its social responsibility and aligning academic research and disciplines with the practical needs of Lebanese cities, leveraging academic and technical expertise to serve the local community.

Under the terms of the MoU, the university will provide technical support, consultancy, and urban studies. This includes preparing planning studies and field surveys, proposing architectural and design solutions to develop public squares, parks, and open spaces, as well as conducting studies on the conservation of heritage and historic buildings, alongside environmental and urban research. Additionally, the agreement entails directing a selection of student graduation projects and scientific research toward addressing specific urban challenges in Saida.

In return, the Municipality of Saida is committed to providing the necessary information, maps, and data, as well as facilitating field operations for working teams. The municipality will also cooperate in securing the funding required to execute agreed-upon projects and cover logistical, operational, and transportation expenses as defined in the specific addenda for each project.

For his part, Professor Abdel-Salam expressed his pleasure in launching a new chapter of cooperation with the Municipality of Saida, emphasizing that the city possesses vision and ambition, and that BAU looks forward to being a partner in its revitalization journey by contributing to its development while preserving its heritage and identity.

In turn, Mayor Mustafa Hijazi expressed the municipality’s pride in collaborating with Beirut Arab University, highlighting that this partnership represents a step toward effective cooperation that contributes to developing the city and elevating its urban and service environment. He noted that the municipality appreciates the university’s academic and civic vision and looks forward to translating this partnership into joint projects that serve Saida and its residents while safeguarding its identity and heritage.

E15 Participation in public parks during 2021

The 2020–2021 annual report documents children’s activities in Karantina Park: a game board workshop on 24 April 2021 and a further workshop on 18 May 2021. The activities involved partnerships with United Nations organisations and community collaborators. They demonstrate BAU using an existing public park for community engagement and child participation. Karantina Park is beyond BAU’s campus, so these activities do not establish public entry to university owned green spaces or BAU management of the park.

Evidence: BAU Annual Report 2020–2021 community services (PDF pages 38–39; printed pages 75–76)

E16 Botanical knowledge published in 2023

BAU’s Media Center lists “Glance at the Bloom of Debbieh” as a special publication released in January 2023. It is relevant to knowledge about campus biodiversity. The publication listing is not evidence of a public nature walk or an event at Bekaa. It is retained to correct the earlier report’s use of the title as an access example, rather than to count an unverified visit.

Evidence: BAU Media Center Productions (Special Releases; January 2023)

These partnerships and activities show how students, academics and community organisations can contribute to public space. Their relevance to SDG 11 is clear, while their role in this specific indicator remains supporting evidence unless a university provided space and its access terms are established.

Submission narrative and evidence requirements

Suggested factual narrative

Beirut Arab University maintains open and landscaped spaces across its campuses and publishes policies for their protection and use. Visitors are included in the conduct rules, and campus entry follows the university’s identification procedures. BAU also welcomes external school groups through organised visits and Open Doors activities. Its agreements with Al Mina Municipality and Saida Municipality support the development of public parks, squares and open spaces for surrounding communities.

Evidence: Open space management policy

Evidence: Campus visitor procedures

Evidence: School visits and Open Doors

The operational evidence reviewed establishes managed grounds and community participation. A direct university statement is still needed to confirm which outdoor areas the general public may enter without charge and whether the arrangement is permanent or occasional. Until those terms are documented, this report does not recommend an unqualified affirmative claim of permanent free public access.

Orientation for Prospective Students

Corrections to the previous report

The updated assessment removes or qualifies the following claims because the linked originals do not establish them: universal free access across all four campuses; general public entry from 6 AM to midnight; unrestricted leisure walking; and a completed, operating Al Mina park. Parking gate hours are identified as parking hours. The Debbieh botanical publication is no longer described as a spring 2023 nature walk at Bekaa. Unverified scout camps, outdoor lectures and tree planting invitations are not counted as proven public access events.

Evidence: Parking hours and charges in the original policy (PDF pages 1–2)

Evidence needed to confirm the free access category

A public access notice should identify the gardens, courtyards or paths covered; eligible external users; days and hours; entry or registration requirements; and an explicit statement that admission is free. A map and a named contact would make the arrangement usable. Occasional access can be supported by a dated invitation naming the outdoor venue and stating no admission charge. For the Al Mina park, a completion or handover record and a current public access notice would resolve the implementation gap. These are proposed evidence improvements, not existing measures asserted by this report.