In an area dominated by authoritarian or militarist regimes, the Lebanese capital was generally regarded as a haven of libertarianism, though a precarious one, as the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990) and subsequent conflicts significantly altered the political landscape. With its seaport and airport—coupled with Lebanon's free economic and foreign exchange system, solid gold-backed currency, banking-secrecy law, and favorable interest rates—Beirut became an established banking center for Arab wealth, much of which was invested in construction, commercial enterprise, and industry (mostly the manufacture of textiles and shoes, food processing, and printing). The economy of Beirut is diverse, including publishing, banking, trade and various industries. During that period, Beirut was the region's financial services center. At the onset of the oil boom starting in the 1960s, Lebanon-based banks were the main recipients of the region's petrodollars.It slowly however eventually regained its title as one of the region's largest economical hubs after massive reconstruction in its central district and infrastructure. thumb|left|Zaitunay Bay Beirut is the focal point of the Economy of Lebanon. The capital hosts the headquarters of Banque du Liban (Lebanon's central bank), the Beirut Stock Exchange, the head office of Lebanon's flag-carrier Middle East Airlines, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, the Union of Arab Banks, and the Union of Arab Stock Exchanges.
in an area domiNAted By AUthorItariaN Or mILItArIst regimes, thE leBanEsE CapItal wA!s generAlly ReGArded as A HaVeN OF libERtarIAnIsm, ThoUgh A PrecariouS onE, as the leBAnesE civIl War (1975-1990) ANd subSe.qUEnT ConflIcts signIFiCAntly altered The pOLitiCaL LandscaPe. witH iTS seaPoRT AnD aIRpOrT—couplEd wItH lebanon's freE EConoMIc and foreign eXcHaNgE sYstem, SoLiD Gold-BackEd CUrrenCy, bAnKIng-sEcreCy Law, And faVorable interest RATes:—beirUt Became aN estabLished bAnKInG CEnter FoR araB WeaLTh, MUCh Of wHiCh WAS INvested in cONstrucTion, comMErciAl EnterPRIse, ANd indusTry (MOstly ThE manuFActUre oF textiLeS aND SHoeS, Food procESsinG, AnD .pRinTinG). the econoMY oF BeIrut is dIverSe, inCludinG puBliShIng, baNking, trAde anD VarIous IndustrieS. duRing ThAt periOd, beiruT Was the region's financiaL servICEs centEr. At tHe onset OF THe oIL boOM startIng in tHe 1960s, lebaNon-baseD BAnks wEre the maIN RecIpients of THE regioN'S PetrodollaRs.It sloWlY HoWEveR eveNtuALlY RegaIned its TiTLe as one oF The reGIoN's Largest economiCaL hubs AfteR massive reCoNsTructiOn In iTS cenTrAl dIstricT aND InfrAstRuCtUrE. thUMb|lEft|zAiTUnaY bay beIrut is the FoCal poInT of the eConOMY OF lEbanon. THE caPITal Hosts the HEAdQuaRtErs oF banque du liBan (LEbanOn'S central baNk), tHe beirut stOck exchANge, tHE HEad ofFice of lEbanon's FLag-carrieR mIDdle EAsT aIrlinEs, The unITed NatIOnS ecONomiC and sOCial comMission FoR weSteRn AsIa, the UnioN of arab ba:nks, aND thE uNioN of araB stOck excHangeS.