Tripoli: what to see and whether to move there

What the city lives on and who it suits

Tripoli is the capital of Libya and its largest city, home to about 1.2 million people on the Mediterranean. Libya has Africa's largest proven oil reserves, and the whole economy rests on oil and gas: Tripoli hosts the national oil company, the central bank, ministries and offices of foreign contractors.

Since 2014 the country has been effectively divided: the Government of National Unity sits in Tripoli, while the east is controlled by other authorities and armed forces. Within the city, armed groups share influence, and in May 2025 fighting between them broke out again in Tripoli. Many governments advise their citizens against travel to Libya.

It suits specialists with contracts in oil and gas, construction, energy and international organisations who work within their employer's security system. It does not suit tourists, families with children or anyone planning to move independently.

Neighbourhoods: where foreigners live

Foreigners live in guarded compounds or villas with security and travel on routes agreed with the security service.

Cost of living

The Libyan dinar was devalued in 2025, the black market rate is above the official one, and banks sometimes run short of cash. Petrol is very cheap, but housing and security for foreigners are expensive, so without an employer package life here costs a lot.

Practicalities: climate, utilities, travel

• Climate. Mediterranean: hot summers, mild rainy winters, and in spring and autumn the ghibli, a hot dusty wind from the Sahara.
• Electricity. Summer outages last several hours; life is hard without a generator.
• Money. Cash matters more than cards; international transfers and cards work with restrictions.
• Travel. Mitiga airport operates flights to Istanbul, Tunis, Cairo and Amman; overland to Tunisia goes through the Ras Ajdir crossing.
• Language. Arabic; in business Italian and English are often spoken.

Family: schools and healthcare

The few international schools operate intermittently, so most foreigners come without children. Private clinics handle simple cases, while Libyans and foreigners most often go to Tunisia for serious treatment. Insurance must cover medical evacuation.

First steps after arrival

• get the work permit and residence through your employer; the passport is handed in for processing in advance;
• take the security briefing and save the contacts of the security service and your embassy;
• buy a local SIM card and check a backup communication channel;
• keep a reserve of cash in dollars or euros and dinars;
• find out in advance where the nearest clinic is and how evacuation works.

What to see if you are already in the city

The Tripoli medina with covered markets and Ottoman mosques, the Red Castle museum and the Roman Arch of Marcus Aurelius are the main places for daytime walks. Within tens of kilometres of the city lie the ancient World Heritage cities of Sabratha and Leptis Magna, but foreigners visit them only with security and after clearance from the security service.

Who hires foreigners

The main employers are oil and gas companies and their contractors, construction and energy firms, including Turkish and Italian ones, as well as UN agencies and humanitarian organisations. Contracts usually follow a rotation schedule: several weeks of work followed by rest outside the country. The package includes housing in a guarded compound, transport, security and insurance with evacuation; working in Tripoli without them is not the norm.

Moving and legal status

Libya issues no residence for tourists, investors, remote workers or retirees. Foreigners come on contract: the employer arranges the invitation, visa, work permit and residence, and organises housing, security and insurance. Running a business independently is hard because of divided authority, sanctions risks and banking problems. Those wanting to live on the Mediterranean or in the Arab world under clear rules are usually better served by the UAE or Morocco.

Is the city worth considering for living

Only on contract with an employer who takes care of security, housing and evacuation. For tourism, moving with family or independent life, no: clashes between armed groups, power cuts, cash problems and weak healthcare make life here risky. We find countries in the region for calm living and business; we fix our fee after a free consultation.