Beirut Digital District (BDD)

Beirut Digital District is an enterprise-led innovation district for Lebanon’s digital and creative industries,¹ located in the heart of Beirut City. The district serves as a focal area for Incubator and Accelerator Parks, which are tailored to nurture innovative startups, alongside Commercial Parks to accommodate medium and large enterprises.
Embodying the vision “To vibrantly power innovation in Lebanon”,² the district aspires to “Develop self-sustaining innovative neighborhoods”. It aims to attract investments, create employment opportunities, result in the growth of 10,000 creative individuals,³ and empower Lebanon’s digital and creative industry. As such, the district provides integrated spaces for work, living, and recreation, advanced infrastructure and superior support services for growing businesses in this sector.⁴

To meet the project objectives, a master plan was developed in Bachoura, located on the southern edge of Beirut Central District, with a total Gross Built-up Area of 0.15 square kilometers upon completion. The master plan, designed for a community of over 1,500 members, encompasses the following mix of uses:

• Business Area: encompassing 10 buildings hosting 500 companies⁵ in tech, digital media, accelerators, incubators, venture capital firms, and startups, serving to promote the growth of creative individuals.⁶
• Residential Area: It offers 250 residential units,⁷ divided into small living units ranging from 75 to 300 square meters.⁸ Additionally, furnished apartments for short-term and long-term rentals, catering to corporate guests and foreign employees.⁹
• Leisure Area: It includes a 3 to 4-star hotel,¹⁰ canteens and associated amenities.
• Recreational Area: It compromises fitness zone, sports courts, and gaming spaces.
• Outdoor Green spaces: incorporating designated green spaces such as gardens created for outdoor communal environment.
  As for the shared spaces, the project includes creative social lounges and professional meeting and training rooms¹¹ capable of hosting over 400 events per year.¹²

In terms of sustainability, the project is designed to minimize its reliance on primary energy sources and mitigate the impact on the environment, with the objective of attaining a LEED Silver certification.¹³ The project is supported fully serviced offices and smart infrastructure.

The project, which is being developed by Zein Real Estate (ZRE), is a collaborative effort involving Berytech, a university-based technology incubator, and the Lebanese Ministry of Telecommunications.¹⁴ The Ministry acted as a facilitator, providing broadband internet and telephone infrastructure. PARALX, an architecture firm based in the USA and the Middle East, designed the master plan for the project.^{15 16} The overall cost is $150 million, with the European Investment Bank showing interest in co-funding the project along with local banks.¹⁷

The phasing of implementation of BDD follows a pragmatic approach, fostering the organic growth of a vibrant urban district.¹⁸

• Phase A was launched in 2012 and completed in 2017.¹⁹ In this phase, the total built-up area reached 17,500 square meters, dedicated to office spaces.²⁰ This phase included renovating older buildings for use as either temporary facilities or integrating them as permanent components of BDD. They also serve as the spatial backdrop for events, conferences, community activities, among others.²¹ These revamped temporary buildings, in conjunction with restored historic structures, seek to contributes to the area’s unique character and supports its community-oriented goals.
• Phase B was launched in 2018²² and completed in 2022. In this phase, the total built-up area reached 44,500 square meters, district dedicated to office spaces.²³
• Phase C is scheduled for completion in 2025.²⁴ In this phase, the total built-up area of BDD will grow to 84,000 square meters, accommodating both office spaces and residential units.²⁵
• Phase D, set to be completed in 2030,²⁶ will transform BDD into a 150,000 square meter district with multiple offices and residential units.²⁷

It is worth noting that in 2018, BDD launched the BDD Academy to address the talent gap. The academy aims to develop skillset of people from all backgrounds to fulfill the digital jobs needs at short and long term.