Rayak Air Base (Arabic: قاعدة رياق الجوية‎‎ Kaidat Rayak al-jawiya) (ICAO: OLRA) is Lebanon's first air base and the place where the Lebanese Air Force was born on June 1, 1949. Located in the middle of the Bekaa Valley to the east, between the towns of Zahlé and Anjar, it symbolizes the Lebanese Air Force best and home for most of the aircraft types that have seen service and the final resting place for almost all retiring planes.

The airfield has been in use since 1914 by various foreign forces such as German, Ottoman, British and French.

Rayak Air Base was constructed and used by the Germans in World War I. After liberation by the allies Armee d'l'air personnel trained Lebanese Air Force technicians in aircraft maintenance and on 1 August 1945, Lebanon took command of its armed forces, including Rayak air base.

During the French Mandate of Lebanon, Rayak Air base was considered to be the "jewel" of the Air bases and the centre of attraction of all other military units, not only in Lebanon but also in mandated Syria and all the Near East. The base had many entertainment facilities, luxuries, flowering gardens, and central heating, which at that time were not found in military sites elsewhere in the region.

The French Air Force evacuated the base in 1949, and it was abandoned for a long time, which contributed in turning it into a miserable condition, especially after being looted by its own guards. The army command later decided to rebuild the air base, a reconstruction that took two months and which included the construction of new buildings and infrastructure.

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