Real Estate Investments & Business Law in Lebanon.
A dedicated department handling acquisitions, due diligence, foreign ownership, development, leasing, taxation and disputes, from first negotiation to title registration.
Mattar Law Firm's Real Estate Department advises Lebanese citizens, expatriates and foreign investors on every stage of a property transaction. We combine market knowledge with a rigorous approach to due diligence, structuring, financing and cadastre matters, and we act in the shortest delays permitted by law.
Foreign acquisition of Lebanese property
Foreign ownership of real estate in Lebanon is governed by Law No. 296 of 2001, which amended the pre-existing regime. The law simplifies the legal limits applicable to non-Lebanese acquirers and standardizes registration fees at 5% (plus stamp duty, for a total effective rate frequently cited at 5.8%) for both Lebanese and foreign investors, subject to caps and area thresholds set by decree.
Our real estate services
- ◆Pre-acquisition due diligence at the Land Registry (title, mortgages, easements, litigation)
- ◆Drafting and negotiation of promises to sell, sale deeds and preliminary contracts
- ◆Structuring through Lebanese or foreign SPVs, holding companies and offshore vehicles
- ◆Application for foreign-ownership authorizations, where required
- ◆Registration of transfers with the Cadastre and payment of registration duties
- ◆Construction, off-plan sales, VEFA-type contracts and developer disputes
- ◆Commercial and residential leases, evictions and rent revisions
- ◆Real estate taxation, capital-gains planning and inheritance of Lebanese property
- ◆Litigation before civil and cadastral courts
For developers and institutional investors
We assist developers with land assembly, joint-venture and BOT arrangements with landowners, construction and consultancy contracts, financing packages secured by mortgage, and the marketing and sale of units. Our team coordinates with architects, engineers and financing banks throughout the project life-cycle.
For expatriates and cross-border owners
A significant part of our practice involves Lebanese expatriates buying, selling or restructuring family real estate from abroad. We work under powers of attorney, coordinate with foreign notaries and banks, and structure holding vehicles that facilitate future inheritance in the client's country of residence.