Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates agreed to take the necessary measures to reopen the UAE embassy in Beirut which has been closed since 2021.
The agreement was reached during a meeting between the president of the UAE, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati in Abu Dhabi, according to a joint communique issued Thursday.
The two parties also agreed to establish a joint committee to faciliatte visa issuance for Lebanese citizens visiting the UAE.
The UAE president expressed his wishes “for the prosperity, stability, and unity of Lebanon and its brotherly people.” He was quoted as saying: “We want to see Lebanon strong, cohesive, and actively engaged in its Arab, regional, and international surroundings.”
On his part, Mikati expressed gratitude and appreciation for the UAE’s continuous support of Lebanon which, he said, “contributed to enhancing its ability to confront numerous challenges.”
In 2021, the UAE withdrew its diplomats from Lebanon in support of Saudi Arabia and imposed a travel ban following controversial remarks by Former Information Minister George Kordahi, who called the Yemen war “futile” and defended the Iran-aligned Houthis.
Also, in May 2021, former Lebanese Foreign Minister Charbel Wehbeh accused Gulf monarchies of links to the Islamic State group during an al-Hurra TV program. He left the set after feeling uneasy about the Saudi guest’s responses and stated, “I won’t accept insults from the Bedouins.”
