Arsal is located in the north-eastern area of the Bekaa, in the heart of the highlands of the Lebanese Eastern mountain chains, 38 kilometers far from Baalbeck. Arsal’s altitude varies between 1.400m and 2600m.
The estimated number of population of Arsal is 25,000, of which just less than a third only migrating to other cities and the majority living in town.
The main sources of income in Arsal are agriculture, animal production (the largest sheep and goat cattle in Lebanon) and quarrying.
Arsal Rural Development Association:
ARDA, a voluntary association, was founded in 1990 with the objective to plan and execute development activities that contribute to the improvement of the general standards of living. ARDA attempts to integrate with official, local and international programs in order to achieve its goals. 
The environment of the association:
ARDA targets the town of Arsal that is located in the district of Ba’lbek in the eastern north of the governorate of the Beq’a. Arsal is surrounded by the eastern Lebanese mountains.
Arsal’s population approximates 25.000. The town suffers from its geographical remoteness. In addition it suffers from a historical lack of services, a dry, desert-like climate and limited resources. The major means of production are organic farming such as fruit production (mainly cherries and apricots) and cereals (mainly wheat and barley), keeping livestock (goats and sheep) and quarrying.
Goals of the association
1. Raising community awareness to meet pressing needs.
2. Human resources development.
3. Human development and improving standards of living especially for women.
4. Raising the interest of the public sector in terms of the town’s rights to services and development.
ARDA targets all the echelons of the civil society among which are women, farmers, children and the youth in general.