UAE, Lebanon agree to deepen economic and diplomatic ties during President Aoun's visit
DUBAI: The UAE and Lebanon have agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation through a series of initiatives, state news agnecy WAM reported on Thursday.
The initiatives include the formation of a joint Emirati-Lebanese Business Council, efforts to increase mutual diplomatic representation, and support for Lebanon's economic development and institutional reform.
The announcement came during Lebanese President Joseph Aoun's working visit to the UAE, where he was received by President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan at Al-Shati Palace in Abu Dhabi.
The two leaders discussed ways to expand cooperation in economic, investment, and government sectors. As part of this effort, the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development will send a delegation to Lebanon to assess potential joint projects, while the UAE's Knowledge Exchange Office will visit Beirut to share best practices on government performance and institutional excellence.
Sheikh Mohamed reaffirmed the UAE's commitment to supporting Lebanon's stability, security, and sovereignty, emphasizing its strategic role within the Arab region. He expressed hope that the visit would bolster relations and advance mutual development goals.
The UAE president also said the reopening of its embassy in Beirut was a symbol of the country's commitment to supporting Lebanon's new phase.
Both sides also agreed to facilitate travel between their countries through appropriate mechanisms.
The leaders exchanged views on regional developments and stressed the importance of Arab unity and security.
President Aoun thanked the UAE for its longstanding support and expressed readiness to enhance bilateral ties.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Asharq Al-Awsat
2 days ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
IMF Sees 'Some Progress' on Lebanon Reforms, But Says External Support Needed
Lebanon has made progress on reforms needed to revive its economy but still has key steps to take and will need external funding on concessional terms, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Thursday after a week of meetings in Beirut. Lebanon's economy went into a tailspin in late 2019, prompted by decades of profligate spending by the country's ruling elite. Reforms required to access IMF funding were repeatedly derailed by political and private interests, according to Reuters. Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, both of whom took office in early 2025, pledged to prioritize reforms and secure an IMF financing agreement - but the country now faces additional needs with the widespread destruction and displacement caused by Israel's military campaign last year. 'The authorities have made some progress recently, including the amendment of the Bank Secrecy Law and submission of a new bank resolution law to Parliament,' the IMF's Lebanon mission chief Ramirez Rigo said in a written statement. Rigo added that his mission held 'productive discussions' with Lebanese officials, including on restoring the viability of the banking sector, fiscal and debt sustainability and enhancing anti-money laundering and terrorism financing measures. He said Lebanon's medium-term fiscal framework should support the restructuring of Eurobond debts, which Lebanon defaulted on in 2020, leading to a sovereign default on its $31 billion of outstanding international bonds. 'Given Lebanon's substantial reconstruction needs, limited fiscal space and lack of capacity to borrow, the country will require significant support from external partners on highly concessional terms,' the IMF statement said. The World Bank estimated Lebanon's recovery and reconstruction needs following Israel's military campaign at $11 billion. But the US has said it opposes any reconstruction funds to Lebanon until Hezbollah - the Iran-backed Lebanese armed group that fought Israel last year - is disarmed.
Saudi Gazette
2 days ago
- Saudi Gazette
Israel attacks suburbs of Beirut, targeting alleged Hezbollah ‘drone factories'
BEIRUT — The Israeli military carried out strikes on Hezbollah 'drone factories' in southern Lebanon and suburbs of Beirut on Thursday, as large plumes of smoke could be seen rising from the Lebanese capital. The Israeli attack marked its biggest escalation in Lebanon since the US-brokered ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah in November. The Israel Defense Forces said it was striking 'terror targets of the Hezbollah Aerial Unit (127)' in the southern suburb of Dahieh, Beirut. NNA news reported strikes from Israeli drones, saying that a 'series of warning strikes, numbering more than seven' had targeted the city's southern suburbs. The news outlet also said that Israeli drones carried out an airstrike on the town of Ain Qana in Lebanon's Iklim Tuffah region. There were no initial reports of casualties related to the strikes, the spokesperson for Lebanon's Ministry of Public Health told CNN early on Friday morning. The Israeli military had previously warned of a coming strike in the area, intended to target alleged 'underground UAV production facilities' controlled by Hezbollah. IDF Arabic Spokesperson Avichay Adraee issued an 'urgent warning' via social media earlier on Thursday, urging residents of 'Al-Hadath, Haret Hreik, and Burj Al-Barajneh,' neighborhoods to immediately evacuate buildings marked in red on attached maps and adjacent structures, and to stay at least '300 meters away' for safety. A second 'urgent warning' was issued by the Israeli military via a post on X accompanied by a satellite photo of Lebanon with highlighted zones they said showed the locations of Hezbollah sites. The warning urged residents to evacuate nearby buildings 'immediately and stay at least 500 meters away from them.' The announcement prompted widespread panic and evacuations, according to NNA. Social media video captured Thursday night showed dozens of cars leaving neighborhoods in the city's south. The strikes were carried out as Muslims in Lebanon prepared to celebrate Eid al-Adha, known as the Feast of Sacrifice, on Friday. Most Muslims in Lebanon usually celebrate the eve of Eid which fell on Thursday evening local time. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam both condemned the Israeli strikes, with Auon saying that it was a 'blatant violation of an international agreement, as well as the basic tenets of international and humanitarian laws and resolutions' on the eve of an important religious occasion. Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz posted on X shortly after the strikes were carried out, saying that the country holds the Lebanese government 'directly responsible for preventing violations of the ceasefire and all terrorist activity against the State of Israel.' 'We will continue to enforce the ceasefire rules without any compromises,' Katz added. Israel previously struck the same neighborhood, a Hezbollah stronghold, in late March. A ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon had been brokered in November 2024, but strikes on southern Lebanon targeting Hezbollah militants and facilities have continued. — CNN
Asharq Al-Awsat
3 days ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
UAE, Egypt Stress Importance of Two-State Solution
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his Egyptian counterpart, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, have stressed the importance of intensifying efforts to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and work towards a clear political horizon for a just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution. Sheikh Mohamed met with Sisi in Abu Dhabi on ways to further strengthen cooperation between their two countries across various sectors, particularly those that advance their shared development goals. A statement said that the two leaders also reviewed regional and international issues of mutual concern and exchanged views on recent developments in the Middle East, particularly efforts to restore security and stability in the region. 'They stressed the importance of intensifying efforts to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and work towards a clear political horizon for a just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution, ensuring security and stability for all,' said a statement carried by Emirates News Agency (WAM) on Wednesday. Sheikh Mohamed and Sisi 'reaffirmed their shared commitment to continued consultation and coordination between the UAE and Egypt on matters that serve the interests of both nations and support efforts to promote regional peace, security, and stability as essential foundations for development and prosperity,' it added. Egyptian Presidential Spokesman Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy said the meeting in Abu Dhabi 'also addressed the situations in Lebanon, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Somalia as well as other regional developments.' El-Sisi and Sheikh Mohamed 'confirmed the paramount need to protect the security and sovereignty of these countries, thereby achieving their peoples' aspirations for stability and prosperity,' El-Shennawy said. The two leaders also affirmed the importance of delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza in adequate quantities and without impediments, to save the people of the Palestinian enclave from the dire humanitarian conditions, he added.
