The United Arab Emirates ambassador, Salem Fahd al-Kaabi, arrived in Beirut on Tuesday evening. He was greeted upon arrival by Consul Rodrigue Khoury, representing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
His presence in Beirut marks the restoration of relations between Lebanon and the UAE, announced by Emirati President Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan during the official visit of his Lebanese counterpart, Joseph Aoun, to Abu Dhabi last April.
Relations between Lebanon and the UAE had deteriorated in 2021 following critical remarks made by former Minister of Information George Kordahi regarding Gulf countries, in the context of commentary on the Yemen war.
Following the discussions between Al-Nahyan and Aoun, the UAE lifted its travel ban on Lebanon for its citizens starting May 7, a restriction that had been in place since 2021.
On September 6, Sheikh Al-Nahyan appointed Salem Fahd al-Kaabi as head of the UAE diplomatic mission in Lebanon and received the credentials of Lebanon’s ambassador to the UAE, Tarek Mneimneh.
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