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Much of Beirut’s coast is privatised. Nada Homsi for The National
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Abu Omar Al Itani on the coast of Dalieh in Beirut. His family has occupied the stretch of shoreline in Lebanon's capital for more than 120 years. Nada Homsi for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JDZAML76HZCODPLTFXBNIMDWVY.jpeg?smart=true&auth=e9ac84a256ff5797370329c06e5b72c1eb1dc5ce668b78c5ab7db1a3f589842c&width=400&height=225)
Hotels, high-rise residences and resorts line the beachfront, but Dalieh is still a communal slice of coast for the many who cannot afford entry to one of Lebanon’s many beach resorts. Nada Homsi for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2LNROQSDVRGD3IARPUGV7RICAE.jpg?smart=true&auth=a86b92e609f684896c648960d0f1176166053522e0af63973abe6f34ae4c6282&width=400&height=225)
Children playing on Beirut's shoreline. Jamie Prentis / The National
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Abu Omar, top right, looks out to sea from a diving platform. Jamie Prentis / The National
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The Itani family of Dalieh, traditionally farmers and fishermen, has evolved with the times. Now they offer tourism services, including boat tours of the coast. Jamie Prentis / The National
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Tourists wait to board a boat. Jamie Prentis / The National
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The caves at Pigeon Rocks. Jamie Prentis / The National
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Concrete breakwaters line the beachfront where Abu Omar's great-grandfather once had a farm. Jamie Prentis / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6SL3XY47N5F3XPUG47VGBUIJLA.jpeg?smart=true&auth=db8e0269631ad47c74347cd9c6d953c429bc54bc9aa961b67fe7b772ee56644e&width=400&height=225)
The Itanis have been guardians of the Dalieh shoreline for generations, often saving hapless jumpers and clumsy tourists from the cliffside known as Suicide Rock. Nada Homsi for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RCHOYWBXL5BOBLQPEOGKCGQI7Y.jpeg?smart=true&auth=f895760610bbf9366aeab679d66b5d9e4f63070e21dd755f607f9dcabbcaa1a5&width=400&height=225)
Much of Beirut’s coast is privatised. Nada Homsi for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/P74MQVTBRJFJBFWQBPPGLTOHAQ.jpeg?smart=true&auth=68fefb290a53872ff4322dfd2261041c3d1d72dd9d8cccd2833643eaa6684505&width=400&height=225)
Abu Omar Al Itani on the coast of Dalieh in Beirut. His family has occupied the stretch of shoreline in Lebanon's capital for more than 120 years. Nada Homsi for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JDZAML76HZCODPLTFXBNIMDWVY.jpeg?smart=true&auth=e9ac84a256ff5797370329c06e5b72c1eb1dc5ce668b78c5ab7db1a3f589842c&width=400&height=225)
Hotels, high-rise residences and resorts line the beachfront, but Dalieh is still a communal slice of coast for the many who cannot afford entry to one of Lebanon’s many beach resorts. Nada Homsi for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2LNROQSDVRGD3IARPUGV7RICAE.jpg?smart=true&auth=a86b92e609f684896c648960d0f1176166053522e0af63973abe6f34ae4c6282&width=400&height=225)
Children playing on Beirut's shoreline. Jamie Prentis / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ECFNM26CVRAXJORVO4P54M7OI4.jpg?smart=true&auth=a037f65f7e6523c629e1fc764f7fe5571811fe0890d05168e7c909a9ebb60dc2&width=400&height=225)
Abu Omar, top right, looks out to sea from a diving platform. Jamie Prentis / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UBD4C4J47NASBPWIR2KK6E7FJA.jpg?smart=true&auth=e86ace60a12ec15796da4f894bcf193be812335e2a4c261bb64624143d2aed5d&width=400&height=225)
The Itani family of Dalieh, traditionally farmers and fishermen, has evolved with the times. Now they offer tourism services, including boat tours of the coast. Jamie Prentis / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/K4RGEUEBWNHATOKFIKC4RSPT7E.jpg?smart=true&auth=45d68a792e6607c76fcf80e5790c74a4a468e3a7b335b7a05081e700830d4b62&width=400&height=225)
Tourists wait to board a boat. Jamie Prentis / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7TM5PY4YERERJEALK56VVU473U.jpg?smart=true&auth=20cd546b125bf7d384d373cb5d40b5c5fd80d0d4db168c3ecf6eec68edc4cc5d&width=400&height=225)
The caves at Pigeon Rocks. Jamie Prentis / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2J5SDMQO45DWTKRQNKPJSHGS6M.jpg?smart=true&auth=c11f68709adb2707d55a9cbcb96323b68cb5d72857ddfe62c11667a4cc6500de&width=400&height=225)
Concrete breakwaters line the beachfront where Abu Omar's great-grandfather once had a farm. Jamie Prentis / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6SL3XY47N5F3XPUG47VGBUIJLA.jpeg?smart=true&auth=db8e0269631ad47c74347cd9c6d953c429bc54bc9aa961b67fe7b772ee56644e&width=400&height=225)
The Itanis have been guardians of the Dalieh shoreline for generations, often saving hapless jumpers and clumsy tourists from the cliffside known as Suicide Rock. Nada Homsi for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RCHOYWBXL5BOBLQPEOGKCGQI7Y.jpeg?smart=true&auth=f895760610bbf9366aeab679d66b5d9e4f63070e21dd755f607f9dcabbcaa1a5&width=400&height=225)
Much of Beirut’s coast is privatised. Nada Homsi for The National
'We were born in this sea': the Beirut family who are guardians of Dalieh beach
For generations, a branch of the Itani clan have taken it upon themselves to protect a threatened slice of public coastline
Jamie Prentis
22 July, 2022
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