Latest news with #Riyadh-led
Nahar Net
5 days ago
- Business
- Nahar Net
UAE delegation inspects Beirut's port and airport
by Naharnet Newsdesk 28 May 2025, 11:49 An Emirati official said Wednesday that 'UAE's president is keen on granting Lebanon everything it wishes for,' during a visit by a UAE delegation to the Port of Beirut. 'The Lebanese citizen wants Lebanon to return to its strategic role and the president of the UAE is keen on granting Lebanon everything it wishes for,' the head of the delegation, Assistant Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Knowledge Exchange Abdullah Nasser Lootah, said. The delegation also visited the Rafik Hariri International Airport and was accompanied by Public Works and Transport Minister Fayez Rasamny on both visits. The United Arab Emirates had in early May lifted a ban on its citizens traveling to Lebanon that was imposed during a diplomatic row in 2021. The decision was announced a day after President Joseph Aoun met with his UAE counterpart Mohamed bin Zayed in Abu Dhabi. "The two sides agreed to allow citizens to travel after taking necessary measures to facilitate movement between the two countries and putting in place appropriate mechanisms," a statement said. In 2021, the UAE imposed a travel ban on its citizens and withdrew diplomats from Beirut in solidarity with Saudi Arabia after a Lebanese minister criticized the Riyadh-led military intervention in Yemen. Lebanese citizens were not banned from traveling to the UAE, although some experienced difficulties obtaining visas. The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, which supports infrastructure projects in developing countries, will send a delegation to Lebanon to study potential joint projects, the statement said. Ties between Beirut and Abu Dhabi soured in the past decade over Hezbollah's influence on Lebanon. But with the group weakened by its recent war with Israel, the UAE is the latest Gulf country to renew its interest in Lebanon. In March, Saudi Arabia said it would review "obstacles" to resuming Lebanese imports and ending a ban on its nationals visiting Lebanon. That announcement came after Aoun met Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh on his first trip abroad since taking office in January. Aoun, the preferred candidate of both Riyadh and Washington, was elected after the weakening of Hezbollah and the overthrow of the group's ally Bashar al-Assad in Syria shifted the balance of power in Lebanon.
Nahar Net
07-05-2025
- Business
- Nahar Net
KSA inclined to lift Lebanon travel ban on 1st day of Eid al-Adha
Saudi Arabia is inclined to lift the ban on the travel of its citizens to Lebanon on the first day of Eid al-Adha, which is expected to be marked on June 6, Al-Jadeed TV reported on Wednesday. LBCI television had reported Tuesday that 'a specialized technical Saudi committee will visit Lebanon in the coming weeks to study the obstacles standing in the way of the travel of Saudi tourists and to find the appropriate mechanisms for addressing them.' Two Emirati passenger planes landed Wednesday at the Rafik Hariri International Airport after the UAE lifted its travel ban on Lebanon. Lebanon's Nidaa al-Watan newspaper reported Tuesday that after the UAE allowed its citizens to travel to Lebanon, the fellow countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council are inclined to follow suit in the near future. 'Intensive meetings are being held with political and security officials, most notably the meeting that PM Nawaf Salam will hold today (Tuesday) with the GCC ambassadors to explain the measures that the Lebanese state has taken at the airport, its vicinity and along the road leading to it with the aim of reassuring these countries before they take the ban lifting decisions,' the daily quoted a 'highly informed source' as saying. In 2021, the United Arab Emirates imposed the travel ban and withdrew diplomats from Beirut in solidarity with Saudi Arabia, after a Lebanese minister criticized the Riyadh-led military intervention in Yemen. Ties between Beirut and the Gulf countries had soured in the past decade over Hezbollah's influence on Lebanon. But with the group weakened by its recent war with Israel, several Gulf countries have renewed their interest in Lebanon. In March, Saudi Arabia said it would review "obstacles" to resuming Lebanese imports and ending a ban on its citizens visiting Lebanon, following a visit by President Joseph Aoun to the kingdom.
Nahar Net
06-05-2025
- Business
- Nahar Net
Gulf countries to reportedly lift travel ban on Lebanon
by Naharnet Newsdesk 06 May 2025, 14:20 After the UAE allowed its citizens to travel to Lebanon, the fellow countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council are inclined to follow suit in the near future, Lebanon's Nidaa al-Watan newspaper reported on Tuesday. 'Intensive meetings are being held with political and security officials, most notably the meeting that PM Nawaf Salam will hold today with the GCC ambassadors to explain the measures that the Lebanese state has taken at the airport, its vicinity and along the road leading to it with the aim of reassuring these countries before they take the ban lifting decisions,' the daily quoted a 'highly informed source' as saying. 'Subsequent meetings will be held between a number of ambassadors and senior security officials to discuss the taken measures and remove any legal and security obstacles,' the source added. Emirati citizens will be able to visit Lebanon as of May 7 after a ban imposed during a diplomatic row in 2021 was lifted, the official WAM news agency has reported. The Emirati announcement came after President Joseph Aoun met with his UAE counterpart Mohamed bin Zayed in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, after which it was announced that the ban would be lifted. In 2021, the United Arab Emirates imposed the travel ban and withdrew diplomats from Beirut in solidarity with Saudi Arabia, after a Lebanese minister criticized the Riyadh-led military intervention in Yemen. Lebanese citizens were not banned from traveling to the UAE, although some experienced difficulties obtaining visas. Ties between Beirut and Abu Dhabi had soured in the past decade over Hezbollah's influence on Lebanon. But with the group weakened by its recent war with Israel, the UAE is the latest Gulf country to renew its interest in Lebanon. In March, Saudi Arabia said it would review "obstacles" to resuming Lebanese imports and ending a ban on its citizens visiting Lebanon.
Business Recorder
05-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
UAE says citizens can again travel to Lebanon
DUBAI: Emirati citizens will be able to visit Lebanon within days after a ban imposed during a diplomatic row in 2021 was lifted, the official WAM news agency reported Sunday. The announcement comes after Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun met with his UAE counterpart Mohamed bin Zayed in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, after which it was announced that the ban would be lifted. In 2021, the United Arab Emirates imposed the travel ban and withdrew diplomats from Beirut in solidarity with Saudi Arabia, after a Lebanese minister criticised the Riyadh-led military intervention in Yemen. Lebanese citizens were not banned from travelling to the UAE, although some experienced difficulties obtaining visas. Ties between Beirut and Abu Dhabi had soured in the past decade over Hezbollah's influence on Lebanon. But with the group weakened by its recent war with Israel, the UAE is the latest Gulf country to renew its interest in Lebanon.
Gulf Today
02-05-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
UAE lifts 3-year ban on Emiratis travelling to Lebanon
The United Arab Emirates will lift a three-year ban on its citizens travelling to Lebanon, according to a joint statement on Thursday. The decision was announced a day after Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met his UAE counterpart Mohamed Bin Zayed in Abu Dhabi. "The two sides agreed to allow travel for citizens by implementing necessary procedures and mechanisms to ease movement between the two countries," the statement said. In 2021, the UAE imposed a travel ban on its citizens and withdrew diplomats from Beirut in solidarity with Saudi Arabia after a Lebanese minister criticised the Riyadh-led military intervention in Yemen. Lebanese citizens were not banned from travelling to the UAE, although some experienced difficulties obtaining visas. According to WAM, the full statement reads as follows: "To strengthen the close ties and firm fraternal relations between the United Arab Emirates and the sisterly Republic of Lebanon, and to consolidate bilateral relations, President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan received President Joseph Aoun of the Republic of Lebanon at Qasr Al Shati in Abu Dhabi. The two leaders held talks on bilateral relations and ways to enhance cooperation across various sectors. "President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed welcomed the Lebanese President and expressed his hope that the visit would deepen the fraternal relations between the two brotherly countries and advance their shared interests and aspirations for progress and prosperity. "His Highness Sheikh Mohamed expressed his keenness to work jointly with Lebanon to foster development, prosperity, security, and regional stability, and underscored the UAE's support for Lebanon's security, stability and sovereignty. "President Aoun expressed his thanks and appreciation to President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed for his kind sentiments towards Lebanon and its people, affirming his keenness to continue strengthening bilateral relations and parsing the UAE's supportive stance toward Lebanon and its people at all levels. "The two sides discussed ways to foster bilateral relations in various fields, and to develop economic and investment sectors, through joint opportunities, knowledge exchange, and government development. The Government Experience Exchange Office of the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs will visit Beirut to share best practices in government performance and institutional excellence to benefit both countries' public and private sectors. "The two sides also agreed to allow travel for citizens by implementing necessary procedures and mechanisms to ease movement between the two countries," the statement said. "Both sides expressed their aspiration to raise the level of mutual diplomatic representation and agreed to establish a joint UAE-Lebanon Business Council. The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development will send a delegation to Lebanon to explore and assess available joint cooperation projects. "The two sides also discussed the latest regional developments and their impact on Arab-Arab relations and regional security and stability. "President Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed was briefed by President Aoun on the latest developments in Lebanon and regional and international affairs. Sheikh Mohamed reaffirmed Lebanon's strategic importance within the Arab world, affirming that Lebanon is a key pillar of joint Arab action." The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, which supports infrastructure projects in developing countries, will send a delegation to Lebanon to study potential joint projects, the statement said. In March, Saudi Arabia said it would review "obstacles" to resuming Lebanese imports and ending a ban on its nationals visiting Lebanon. That announcement came after Aoun met Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman in Riyadh on his first trip abroad since taking office in January. Agencies
