Beirut, Lebanon – In a notable development for Lebanon’s economy, the price of the dollar has stabilized against the Lebanese lira in financial markets. As of saturday, May 10, 2025, the exchange rate in the parallel market reflects this stability, offering a moment of relative calm amidst ongoing economic turbulence.

Official Banking Platform Rate

According to the Central Bank of Lebanon, the official exchange rate on the banking platform is approximately 89,500 Lebanese pounds per dollar. This rate serves as a benchmark for certain financial transactions within the formal banking system.

Parallel market Exchange Rates

The parallel market, often referred to as the black market, provides an choice avenue for currency exchange. Today’s rates in this market show a tight range, with the dollar trading at approximately 89,600 pounds for purchase and 89,700 pounds for sale. This narrow spread indicates a degree of stability in the unofficial market.

ATM Exchange Rates

Exchange rates at automated teller machines (ATMs) are aligning with market prices, reflecting the broader stabilization trend. This alignment is crucial for ensuring that individuals accessing funds through ATMs receive fair exchange rates consistent with prevailing market conditions.

The “Dollarization” Phenomenon

Lebanon has increasingly relied on dollar pricing, a phenomenon known as Durra, since the onset of the economic crisis in 2019. This crisis, coupled with widespread protests, led to a meaningful devaluation of the local lira against the dollar, both in the parallel market and within local banks. The result has been a continuous deterioration of the lira’s exchange rate.

The economic crisis that occurred in 2019 and the outbreak of protests in the country, which led to the dismantling of the local lira with the dollar in the parallel market, and then in the local banks, and thus the deterioration of the exchange rate of the lira against the dollar.