A group of Beirut activists initiated a series of meetings focused on national issues, starting from the capital Beirut, discussing how to improve the conditions of its residents and develop its capabilities on all social, living, and cultural levels. The attendees agreed to establish an association named “Beirut Forum,” aimed at uniting the efforts of all its activists and activating the work of its civil associations and social networks with components of civil society to unify voices and efforts towards achieving the desired goals. The “Beirut Forum” works to encourage dialogue among Lebanese of various regional affiliations, especially among Beirut residents, as well as to contribute to fostering the spirit of citizenship and belonging to Lebanon and its capital, Beirut. Additionally, it aims to serve the Beirut community, follow up on its issues with officials, collaborate with civil society institutions that share the forum’s goals, and work towards restoring the civil and national face that unites the diverse segments of the Beirut community. After the forum received its registration number 923 from the Ministry of Interior on August 24, 2022, the general assembly held a meeting on September 13, 2022, and elected the first administrative body of the forum, chaired by Dr. Fawzi Salah al-Din Zidan, with Ambassador Bassam Abdul Qader al-Naamani (Vice President), lawyer Hassan Afif Kashli (Secretary), Samer Safouh al-Safah (Treasurer), Dr. Ahmad Mahmoud al-Rifai (Accountant), Dr. Nabil Ahmad Bassam Najah (representing the forum towards the government), and members: Dr. Faisal Mukhtar al-Nasouli, lawyer Michel Dib Falah, retired Brigadier General Abdul Razak Kamel al-Qutli, Lina Muhammad Ali Hamdan, Ziad Nabih Dandan, and Dr. Rouja Amal al-Shuwairi.
