The United Arab Emirates has officially lifted its three-year travel ban on citizens heading to Lebanon, marking a renewed chapter in diplomatic and economic ties between the two nations.
The announcement came Thursday following a meeting between UAE President Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in Abu Dhabi. The leaders discussed ways to enhance cooperation and agreed to ease travel restrictions by putting in place appropriate procedures to facilitate movement between the two countries.
The travel ban, which had been in place since 2021, was initially imposed in solidarity with Saudi Arabia after a Lebanese minister criticized the Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen. Although Lebanese nationals were never formally banned from entering the UAE, some had reported challenges in securing visas.
During their meeting at Qasr Al Shati, President Sheikh Mohamed underscored the UAE’s continued support for Lebanon’s stability and sovereignty. President Aoun, in turn, thanked the UAE for its enduring support and emphasized Lebanon’s commitment to deepening bilateral ties.
As part of broader efforts to strengthen cooperation, both nations agreed to form a joint UAE-Lebanon Business Council and raise diplomatic representation. The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development will dispatch a delegation to Beirut to explore potential investment and development initiatives.
According to the official UAE news agency WAM, the two sides also discussed regional developments and expressed a shared commitment to Arab unity and stability in the region.
The move follows a similar signal from Saudi Arabia in March, when the kingdom said it would reassess restrictions on Lebanese imports and travel following President Aoun’s visit to Riyadh.