Search
Search

DIPLOMACY

UAE embassy in Beirut officially resumes operations

UAE embassy in Beirut officially resumes operations

Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati (left) is welcomed by UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed on Oct. 5, 2023, in Abu Dhabi. (Credit: NNA)

The United Arab Emirates announced Friday the reopening of its embassy in Lebanon, which had been closed since 2021, according to the Gulf nation’s official news agency, WAM.

The UAE’s diplomatic mission in Beirut "has officially resumed its activities," the agency reported.

"The reopening of the embassy is an important step in developing bilateral cooperation between the two countries," said Omar Obaid Al Shamsi, undersecretary of the Emirati Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as quoted by the agency.

He added that "the reopening of the embassy reflects the close fraternal relations between the two nations and enhances opportunities for cooperation in various fields, contributing to the development and prosperity of both nations and their peoples."

The announcement coincided with a visit by Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya to Beirut and followed Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan’s trip to Lebanon the previous day, signaling a warming of relations after years of tension. During his meeting with the Kuwaiti foreign minister, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun pledged Friday to reinvigorate ties with Gulf nations and establish "new foundations for cooperation" once Nawaf Salam’s government is formed.

In October 2023, Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed agreed in Abu Dhabi to reopen the Emirati embassy in Beirut.

The UAE, along with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait, had withdrawn their diplomats from Lebanon in October 2021 following controversial remarks by then-Lebanese Information Minister George Kordahi regarding Saudi Arabia’s role in the Yemen war.

The United Arab Emirates announced Friday the reopening of its embassy in Lebanon, which had been closed since 2021, according to the Gulf nation’s official news agency, WAM.The UAE’s diplomatic mission in Beirut "has officially resumed its activities," the agency reported."The reopening of the embassy is an important step in developing bilateral cooperation between the two countries," said...