The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has ended a long-standing travel restriction on Lebanon, coinciding with a thaw in relations between Abu Dhabi and Beirut.
In a release on Sunday, the UAE Foreign Ministry revealed that Emirati citizens will be permitted to travel to Lebanon starting May 7, after a four-year prohibition that began in 2021 due to concerns over regional instability and safety issues.
The ministry indicated that this decision aims to enhance “brotherly ties” with Lebanon, particularly following a “working visit” by Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to Abu Dhabi, where he engaged in discussions with his Emirati counterpart, Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
During their discussions, both leaders reportedly reached an agreement to streamline travel between their nations by implementing necessary procedures and mechanisms. This includes the UAE Foreign Ministry’s requirement that Emirati travelers to Lebanon must register with an emergency contact system.
The lifting of the travel ban has been positively received by Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, who described it as “a clear indication of the strong fraternal bonds between the two nations.”