In a move that marks a significant chapter for Libya’s financial sector, the Central Bank of Libya (CBL) has officially inaugurated the construction of its long-awaited new headquarters in the Gurji area of Tripoli. The event, which took place on August 11, 2025, was attended by Naji Issa, Governor of the CBL, along with several department heads and notaries, as reported by Libya Herald. The project, first announced more than 11 years ago, aims to consolidate the bank’s scattered departments into one state-of-the-art facility, a step the CBL says is crucial for operational efficiency and institutional independence.
For years, the CBL’s operations have been hampered by the dispersion of its 30 departments across various locations in Tripoli. Employees have faced daily hurdles, from logistical headaches to communication barriers, simply because their offices were spread out in different corners of the capital. As described in the CBL’s own information and marketing video, the new headquarters will finally bring these disparate teams together under one roof, ending what many inside the bank have called an era of fragmentation.
The new headquarters, covering a sprawling 50,000 square meters and occupying over 5 hectares, is a testament to both ambition and modernity. According to project details, the building will accommodate up to 1,000 employees, offering not just office space but also a training centre, a library, and a clinic. The design features a car park with a capacity for 1,100 vehicles, reflecting the scale and importance of the institution within Libya’s economic landscape.
But the project is about more than just bricks and mortar. The CBL has emphasized that the building’s architecture draws inspiration from Libya’s own heritage—specifically, the ancient cave homes dug into the Western or Nesfusa Mountains. This nod to tradition is paired with a forward-looking vision: the headquarters is set to become the first building of its kind in Libya to achieve golden accreditation for environmentally friendly construction. The design incorporates modern systems in line with the CBL’s digital transformation strategy, making the project not only a symbol of independence but also of innovation.
The journey to this point has not been straightforward. Back in April 2014, Danish architects Henning Larsen were announced as winners of the international design competition for the new headquarters, beating out 22 other contenders from both Libya and abroad. Their proposal, which centers on offices built around a subtly angled atrium, was lauded for its environmental and low-energy credentials. In a statement, the architects said, “By using and re-interpreting specifics of the Libyan nature and culture, the new headquarters of the Central Bank of Libya will be a symbol of the new Libya, both for the local as well as the global community.”
Henning Larsen’s design aims to project an image of authority, stability, and security—key attributes for any central bank. Yet, they also sought to capture a sense of dynamism and forward-thinking that reflects the CBL’s role in Libya’s economic growth. As the architects put it, “We believe that the Central Bank of Libya must project an image of authority, solidity and security. At the same time, the Central Bank of Libya plays a crucial role in Libya’s economic growth, and as such, it should project a forward thinking, dynamic attitude, that grasps opportunities.”
The cost of the new headquarters has not been publicly disclosed. However, to provide some perspective, a previous plan published in 2008 to build an Italian-designed CBL headquarters on what was then Green Square (now Martyrs’ Square) was estimated at €98 million. While the current project’s price tag remains under wraps, its scale and ambition suggest a similarly substantial investment.
As the CBL takes steps to modernize its physical infrastructure, it is also pushing forward with digital initiatives—though not without controversy. On August 17, 2025, economist Mohamed Ahmed raised serious questions about the legality and ethics of a new electronic application, “Murtabak Lahzi,” which is being required of government employees for monitoring purposes. Ahmed, speaking to Eram News, acknowledged the good intentions behind combating corruption and waste but argued that “requiring all employees to use the ‘Murtabak Instant’ application lacks an explicit legal basis and raises ethical concerns related to mass surveillance and bypassing the principle that individuals are innocent until proven guilty, without diminishing the value of the technical achievement achieved by the bank’s work team.”
At the heart of Ahmed’s concerns is the issue of banking secrecy, which is enshrined in Libyan law. The Banking Law No. 1 of 2005 mandates that banks must maintain the confidentiality of customer accounts and transactions, with disclosures permitted only under specific circumstances, such as a judicial order. The economist warned that the widespread use of “Murtabak Lahzi” could undermine these protections and set a troubling precedent for employee privacy and legal rights.
Ahmed did offer a possible path forward: if the system is to be used at all, participation should be voluntary. Employees should have the right to withdraw from the application at any time, and any data collected should be permanently deleted, ensuring it cannot be used against them in any legal investigation. This, he argued, would better align with both the spirit and the letter of Libyan law, balancing the fight against corruption with fundamental rights.
The debate over “Murtabak Lahzi” comes at a time when Libya is grappling with a host of other political and social issues, from calls for a unified government to efforts to boost agricultural productivity and public health. As reported by Eram News, concerns about mass surveillance and the erosion of privacy are gaining traction, reflecting a broader unease about the pace and direction of technological change in the country’s public sector.
For the CBL, the opening of its new headquarters and the push for digital transformation represent both progress and challenge. The institution is striving to project stability and modernity in a volatile environment, while also navigating the legal and ethical minefields that come with technological innovation. As Libya continues to rebuild and reform its institutions, the choices made now—about architecture, technology, and the rule of law—will help define the country’s future for years to come.
With the foundation stone now laid in Gurji, the CBL is signaling its intent to be both a guardian of tradition and a pioneer of change, even as the nation debates how best to balance transparency, efficiency, and individual rights in the digital age.