Dubai: The United Arab Emirates on Thursday lifted a ban on its citizens traveling to Lebanon, who was imposed during a diplomatic line in 2021, in 2021.
The decision was announced a day after the meeting with his UAE counterpart Mohammed bin Zayed at Abu Dhabi of Lebanese President Joseph Aon. The statement said, “The two sides agreed to allow citizens to travel after taking necessary measures for the convenience of agitation between the two countries and after taking necessary measures to insert proper mechanisms.”
In 2021, the UAE imposed a traveling ban on its citizens and a Lebanese minister withdrew the diplomat from Berut in solidarity with Saudi Arabia after criticizing Riyadh -led military intervention in Yemen.
Lebanese citizens were not banned from traveling to the United Arab Emirates, although some experienced difficulties were difficult to obtain visas. The statement said that Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, which supports infrastructure projects in developing countries, will send a delegation to Lebanon to study potentially joint projects.
The relationship between Berut and Abu Dhabi has sour over the influence of Hizbullah on Lebanon in the last decade. But the group is the latest Gulf country to renew its interest in Lebanon, with the group weakened by its recent war with Israel.
In March, Saudi Arabia said it would review the “obstacles” to resume Lebanese imports and end the ban on its citizens going to Lebanon. The announcement was made when Aaun met in Riyadh in Riyadh on his first visit since the real ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia took over in January.
The favorite candidate of both Riyadh and Washington, Aoon, was selected after Hizbullah’s weakening and the group’s ally Bashar al-Assad was overthrown in Syria.
