GPS developer, Garmin, has released the 2011 maps for the Middle East, and this time has covered more of the region. Originally, the Middle East maps focused on the GCC (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE and Oman). Towards the end of last year, Garmin started moving west with Jordan added in Q3 2009 and in March 2010, the 2011 maps were released, adding Egypt, Lebanon and Morocco to the mix.
Not as detailed as the maps for the UAE, for instance, but it does cover major metropolitan areas of the country:
Garmin City Navigator® Middle East & Northern Africa NT 2011 Map Coverage
Update – April 9, 2010:
I’ve taken snapshots of both a random area in Beirut and an area in Dubai to compare the maps. What really stands out is the overall road structure and design. Dubai seems planned out, Beirut seems to have been drawn by a two year old.
Snapshot from Garmin GPS of Bur Dubai
Snapshot from Garmin GPS of Ras Beirut
Garmin Adds Lebanon to GPS Database http://jadaoun.com/blog/2010/04/09/garmi…
Very cool. I wonder though, with not having an address to input into your device, how do you enter your destination?
Luckily, I have a Garmin GPS. I’ve taken a look at the map of Beirut and I must say, its quite detailed. It even has those dead-end alleys that you between every other building. You will never get lost in Borj Hammoud again! I’m randomly clicking on roads and I’m surprisingly get names like Rue Jabbour (which apparently is in Hamra). But of course, the best thing about it is that it has Points of Interests (POI) for Lebanon! Imagine, you can type Banque Audi and you get a list of all their branches; click on one it directs you to it. That’s how I get around here in Dubai, no need for actual address.
Imported from Facebook.
by a 2 year old on shr00ms =D
Well you have to admit the fact that the 2-year-old-on-shrooms may have started drawing the streets of Beirut more than a thousand years before Dubai was born.
.-= Check Out A Purple Monkey´s Lastest blog Entry ..The Lebanese Civilization =-.
And therefore are in need of a serious redevelopment!
Garmin gps is the best on the market. I do victim services volunteer work. I can be out at 4am, in remote farmland. This gps gets me home every time.
I wish they had added Beirut to their database when I was there a few years ago! We had to rely on guides and taxi drivers all too much!
once i get to a destination point can i mark or label it for future use. im a sales man in beirut and most of muy customers are not on the highstreet. as i get nearer to this new marked destination will it show me on the screen
Hi Fouad,
Based on experience with my Garmin GPS (nuvi 205), yes you can. How it works on mine is that, once you get to your destination, just tap on the screen and click Save Location. Type in the Location Name (in your case, your customer’s name) and click Save. The location will appear on your map so whenever you are in the vicinity of a customer, it will show on the map.