How did Saladin’s conquest of Beirut in 1187 affect the city?

Saladin’s conquest of Beirut in 1187 marked a significant turning point in the city's medieval history, serving as a key moment in the broader Muslim reconquest of Lebanon from the Crusaders.1

Prior to this event, Beirut had functioned as a Crusader outpost and a fief of the Latin kingdom of Jerusalem, maintaining a flourishing trade with Genoa and other Italian cities. Saladin’s victory effectively ended this period of Crusader control, though the city's status remained volatile; his successors lost Beirut back to the Crusaders just 10 years later. It was not until 1291 that the Mamlūks finally expelled the Crusaders from the city, eventually leading to a period where Beirut flourished as a primary port for Venetian spice merchants.2