BEIRUT – Electronic signatures are now officially recognized in Lebanon, following the adoption of a government decree implementing the country’s existing legal framework for electronic transactions, Minister of Technology and Artificial Intelligence Kamal Shehadi announced.
The measure is expected to facilitate certain official procedures by allowing documents to be signed digitally, potentially reducing the need for citizens to visit public institutions in person.
Under the new decree, electronic signatures can be used in official procedures involving Lebanese courts, notaries, and institutions operating under the Ministry of Justice. Other ministries are expected to adopt the system gradually.
A Missing Step Since 2018
Lebanon’s Electronic Transactions and Personal Data Law No. 81, adopted in 2018, had already established the legal recognition of electronic signatures and documents.
However, the framework required an implementing decree to define how electronic signatures would be applied in practice. Without these procedures, the provisions remained largely inactive.
The newly adopted decree is intended to address this gap and enable the practical use of electronic signatures in official transactions.
How Electronic Signatures Work
An electronic signature is a digital method of confirming a person's identity and approval of a document. Unlike an image of a handwritten signature pasted into a file or a typed name in an email, a secure electronic signature is designed to verify the signer's identity and indicate whether the document has been altered after signing.
These safeguards allow qualifying electronic signatures to carry legal validity under the applicable framework.
What It Means for Citizens
The introduction of electronic signatures could make some administrative procedures easier by allowing citizens to complete transactions remotely, reducing in-person visits and reliance on intermediaries.
The measure also represents a step toward expanding digital public services in Lebanon.
However, several details remain unclear, including how citizens will obtain electronic signatures, which providers will be authorized to issue them, and when additional ministries will adopt the system.
Further implementation details will determine how widely the new framework can be used and how quickly it will affect everyday administrative procedures.
