The town belongs to the Federation of North Iqlim El Kharroub Municipalities.

It is 80 metres (260 ft) above sea level and covers an area of 544 hectares (1,340 acres).

In Greek, it is known as Polatamos, but in the Syriac language, the name is derived from the word Armela meaning "beach".

The town has been mentioned, as Palatamos, in conflicts between Antiochus III the Great and the Ptolemaic Kingdom.

The discoveries at Rmeileh were similar to those in Jiyeh and Khaldeh, Sidon and Chehim.