But the boom is not universal. Half-finished construction projects dot the capital, tied up in investor concerns or stalled after Gaddhafi cronies fled.

At the offices of the Tripoli Post newspaper, editor Said Laswad says the Libyan economy needs a major restructuring.

"Those who are still running the Libyan economy are the remnants of the previous regime, with all the negative aspects of the culture of that regime. You really have to change everything and start anew. We have to start everything from scratch," said Laswad.

One change many experts call for is diversification. Oil accounts for 65 percent of Libya's economy, and 95 percent of its exports. Said Laswad says the new government needs to end the culture of corruption and centralized control, and to stimulate the country's moribund private sector.

"There was no what you can call in the world a private sector or economy as such," said Laswad. "Everything was owned by the government, by Gadhafi and his stooges."

Laswad says the Libyan people have the right to hold accountable those who stole billions from them during the Gadhafi years. But he says there are many business people whose ties to the regime were minimal and who could play a key role in rebuilding the economy and creating a more honest and transparent system that benefits everyone.