Lebanon's caretaker prime minister Najib Mikati meets with UAE president Mohammed Bin Zayed on Oct. 5 (Credit: NNA)
BEIRUT — Caretaker Prime Minsiter Najib Mikati and UAE President Mohammed Bin Zayed agreed in Abu Dhabi on Thursday to reopen the Emirati embassy in Beirut, two years after the latter withdrew its diplomats from Lebanon, the state-run National News Agency reported.
In Oct. 2021, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait, recalled their diplomats from Lebanon after controversial remarks made by previous Information Minister George Kordahi about the Saudi-led war in Yemen.
According to Emirates News Agency (WAM), "Lebanon and UAE agreed to take necessary measures to reopen the Emirates' Embassy in Beirut."
During the meeting, which took place at the Beach Palace in Abu Dhabi, both parties also agreed on "forming a joint committee to develop a mechanism to facilitate the issuance of entry visas for Lebanese to the UAE," WAM reported.
In May and June 2023, Lebanese citizens reported that visas for Lebanese outside the UAE were not being granted. Lebanon's caretaker Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib told Reuters in June that the UAE lifted a visa ban on Lebanese nationals, following a temporary suspension over "security concerns."
Lebanon and UAE also discussed on Thursday the relations between the two countries and the ways to strengthen and develop them in various fields, especially development and economy, WAM reported.
"We want to see a strong and cohesive Lebanon [and for the country to be] an active party in its Arab, regional and international environment," Bin Zayed added.