LEBANON – Lebanon received 20 buses from the Sultanate of Oman on Monday, designated for use within the public transport network as part of a donation to the Lebanese state.
A ceremony to hand over the buses was held at the Mar Mikhael railway station in Beirut and organized by the Office of Railways and Public Transport (OCFTC), in the presence of Minister of Public Works and Transport Fayez Rasamny, Oman’s Ambassador to Lebanon Ahmad bin Mohammad bin Said Al-Saidi, OCFTC Director General Ziad Chaaya, and Beirut Governor Marwan Abboud.
Rasamny stressed the importance of developing the public transport sector, noting that providing a viable alternative would encourage citizens to use public transportation. He said the public transport network currently operates across 11 routes, while work is underway to develop five additional routes.
He added that the OCFTC could operate a larger number of buses once the necessary capacity and vehicles become available, with the potential to add up to 500 buses.
Rasamny also highlighted the experience of cooperation with the private sector in managing and operating buses donated to Lebanon, describing it as encouraging for the development of the sector. Ahdab Commuting & Trading Company (ACTC) is responsible for managing and maintaining 93 state-owned buses, including 49 buses donated by France in May 2022.
For his part, Chaaya thanked the Sultanate of Oman for the donation, noting that the OCFTC had been informed of the initiative about a month ago and that it was implemented within a short period. He said the arrival of the buses comes at an appropriate time to support efforts to develop public transport in Lebanon.
Oman’s ambassador, meanwhile, stressed the importance of his country’s contribution to developing Lebanon’s public transport sector, which could help reduce traffic congestion, particularly during peak hours. He also highlighted the importance of promoting a culture of public transport among Lebanese citizens.
The Omani donation is part of a series of initiatives aimed at strengthening public transport in Lebanon. In July, the Lebanese Cabinet approved a project to acquire 100 buses for the OCFTC, financed through a grant from the Chinese government. In December 2025, Qatar also donated 30 buses to Lebanon to support its public transport network.
