About – Lebanese Economic Association

Who We Are

The Lebanese Economic Association is a registered Lebanese NGO at the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities under number 13815 (June 11, 2007).

Objectives

Facilitate and promote the exchange of economics research on Lebanon among professional economists, and with the broader public (students, NGOs, Government institutions)
Foster closer links among academic and non-academic institutions and professionals that are concerned with economic policy issues in Lebanon
Cooperate with international economist associations

Organized Activities

First activity: Conference on the government's Paris III economic reform program at the American University of Beirut (AUB), Monday, January 15, 2007
Policy proposals for the Lebanese government
Economic publications
Public advocacy
Workshops on applied economic research in Lebanon
Promotion of economic literacy in the wider public
Consultancy with public and private instutions

Membership

Membership Criteria

Prospective members of the Lebanese Economic Association must fulfill the following conditions:

University degree and professional experience in economics or a related field (higher academic training is preferred)
Commitment to the values and objectives of LEA
Proven interest in Lebanese and Middle Eastern economics issues

The LEA operates a peer approval system for welcoming prospective members. Any person interested in joining LEA needs to submit an application and a CV to LEA's chairperson, who will then present the application to LEA's board for approval.

Interested individuals, especially students of economic or related fields, that do not meet the above criteria may be admitted as non-voting members.

Annual Membership Fees

$50 Professional Members

$20 Non-voting & Student Members

Membership Benefits

Access to LEA's member directory and listing of profile online
Reduced participation fee in LEA conferences, seminars and workshops
Access to job and research opportunities
Access to exclusive LEA research resources
Access to LEA facilities in Piccadilly Center
Timely notification of upcoming conferences, publications and events

Our Historic Home

The Lebanese Economic Association is located on the third floor of the Piccadilly Center, at the intersection between Hamra Street and Omar Bin Abdul Aziz Street.

Designed by architect William Sednaoui and completed in the early 1960s, the Piccadilly Center stands as a landmark of Lebanese modernism — a witness to Hamra Street's emergence as the one-time beating heart of Lebanon's intellectual, commercial and cultural life.

In 1966, the Piccadilly Theatre or "Qasr El Piccadilly" opened on its ground floor. With its nearly 700 red velvet seats, it became one of the most famous venues of Beirut. On its stage, the Rahbani Brothers put on many of their most illustrious plays starring Fairouz, and Dalida performed there regularly.

The building and its neighborhood have accompanied Beirut's struggles since the outbreak of the Lebanese Wars in 1975. It has survived sieges, bombardments, and several economic collapses.

In addition to LEA, it currently hosts the Lebanese National Archives (Centre d'Archives Nationales), the Institut National pour la Garantie des Dépôts, as well as private institutions like InfoPro.

The Piccadilly Theatre, closed since 2000, is to be renovated then reopened under the custodianship of the Lebanese Ministry of Culture.

Piccadilly Center

L'immeuble du Piccadilly à la fin des années 1960

Photo: L'Orient-Le Jour / Gilles Khoury, 3 July 2023

Piccadilly S.A.L.

Vintage architectural card of the Piccadilly Center

Source: @alimdiab (Instagram), 12 May 2020

Piccadilly Center Today

The building continues to serve as a commercial hub in Hamra

Photo: Karim Andary Architecte (Facebook), 26 October 2018

Legal Information

Registration

Registered NGO at the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities

Registration Number: 13815
Date: June 11, 2007
Official Gazette: Issues 3850-3852, September 25, 2008

View Official Gazette Entry Source: Centre de Recherches et d'Études en Informatique Juridique (CREILJ), Faculté de Droit et des Sciences Politiques et Administratives, Université Libanaise

Bylaws

The Association's governing document outlining structure, membership, and operations.

Download Bylaws