President Joseph Aoun presiding over a Cabinet meeting at the presidential palace in Baabda on March 27, 2025. (Credit: Mohammad Azakir/Reuters)
President Joseph Aoun met a delegation of Emirati officials on Tuesday at the Baabda Palace to discuss the evolution of bilateral relations between Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), expressing hope that his upcoming visit to the emirate will mark "the opening of a new page" in relations between Beirut and Abu Dhabi.
Aoun met the president of the UAE's Federal National Council, Sakr Ghobash, accompanied by the UAE embassy's chargé d'affaires in Lebanon, Fahd Salem al-Kaabi, and in the presence of Lebanon's ambassador to Abu Dhabi, Fouad Dandan. "The relations between Lebanon and the Emirates are deeply rooted, and I am looking forward to my visit to Abu Dhabi to meet Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed," Aoun said, according to a statement released by the palace. "We have great challenges to overcome and a new page in the relationship between our two countries to open," referring to Lebanon's reconstruction after 14 months of devastating war between Hezbollah and Israel.
Ghobash conveyed to the president the greetings and confidence of Emirati President Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed, as well as his commitment to Lebanon. He praised the "progress made in record time" in the country, seeing it as "a qualitative step that reassures us about the future." He added, "Lebanon occupies a special place in the Arab world for its cultural richness and diversity. It is close to us by its nature, culture, and people. The president of the Emirates continually reaffirms his support for Lebanon, its unity, and its return to the Arab fold."
Restoring trust with Arab countries
Ghobash also described Aoun's inauguration speech as a "founding document" that complements the Lebanese constitution and the Taif Agreement, emphasizing that respect for law is the foundation of any modern state. He praised Lebanese skills, which "constitute a lasting wealth," particularly the contributions of the Lebanese diaspora in the Emirates.
Aoun thanked the UAE for welcoming many Lebanese citizens, recalling that "this brotherly country has always stood by Lebanon." He said that, despite difficulties, the government has made progress on several crucial issues and emphasized the need for Lebanon "to restore trust with brotherly and friendly countries," after several years of a severe economic crisis.
Addressing ongoing reforms, the former army chief highlighted security and judicial appointments, notably Karim Souhaid's appointment as head of the Central Bank. He mentioned the adoption of laws on lifting banking secrecy and restructuring the sector, announcing that a "project on addressing the financial deficit" was underway.
On the regional level, he welcomed the "improvement" he sees in the evolution of the Syrian dossier following Prime Minister Nawaf Salam's recent visit to Damascus. "Bilateral committees" must now work on issues of trafficking, border demarcation, and normalization of relations, he specified.
On the subject of south Lebanon, Aoun denounced the continued occupation of the five strategic points where Israeli troops are still positioned, "impeding the implementation of U.N. resolution 1701 and the deployment of the Lebanese army to the border."
He finally reiterated the principle that any point of discord, whether concerning Hezbollah's disarmament, banking restructuring, or the economic crisis, must be addressed "within the framework of national dialogue."
"I do not hold a magic wand, but I am driven by the will and determination to achieve concrete accomplishments and lead Lebanon towards stability and security," stating that "fighting corruption and crime" were his "two priority battles."
The Emirati delegation later met at Ain al-Tineh with Parliamentary Speaker Nabih Berri, in the presence of his deputy, Elias Bou Saab, president of the Lebanese-Emirati parliamentary friendship committee. According to the state-run National News Agency (NNA), the meeting provided an opportunity to discuss boosting cooperation between the parliaments of the two countries.
This article was originally published in French in L'Orient-Le Jour.
