Oman's Sultan Qaboos has granted 50 million dollars to help Lebanon recover from the devastation inflicted by the Israeli offensive on the country, Information Minister Ghazi Aridi has revealed.

"Sultan Qaboos has granted 50 million dollars to help Lebanon overcome the damage inflicted by the war," Aridi told reporters after a weekly cabinet meeting.

Aridi said the grant came after a pledge by Sultan Qaboos to establish a Lebanese-Omani arts center in Beirut, a promise made before the July-August offensive on Lebanon.

The 50 million dollars is in addition to the money for the arts center, the amount of which has not been disclosed.

Aridi said the center will be established in the downtown area of the capital which has been the focus of constant rebuilding since the 1975-1990 civil war.

Solidere, the company entrusted with rebuilding the downtown area, has "pledged to grant a piece of land for this civilized project in the heart of Beirut," Aridi said.

A number of Arab Gulf states, mainly Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, have made generous donations to Lebanon which suffered material damage estimated at about 3.5 billion dollars during Israel's 34-day offensive in July and August.