Iraqi Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein (L) walks with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam after his arrival at Baghdad International Airport for the 34th Arab League Summit on May 16, 2025. (Credit: Thaier al-Sudani/AFP.)
During a visit to the UAE for the 2025 Arab Media Summit, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam reaffirmed Lebanon's commitment to ensuring the safe return of Gulf visitors and said his government aims to pursue reforms and sovereignty together, stressing that only the Lebanese state should hold weapons.
"We want to free ourselves from this duality of weapons that led to a duality of decision and the loss of the national state project. Our vision for Lebanon is not a chimera, but a realistic project: a state of law and institutions, not a state of clientelism and confessional sharing," he initially stated in an interview, from Abu Dhabi, with the Lebanese channel LBCI.
In Lebanon, despite the Taif Agreement, which provided for the disarmament of all militias after the civil war (1975-1990), and various international resolutions on the subject, Hezbollah continues to possess an arsenal, although it was heavily impacted by the last war against Israel, between October 2023 and November 2024. It was following this conflict and the election of a new president, Joseph Aoun, followed by the formation of a new government by Salam, that the state decided to reclaim the monopoly of weapons from Hezbollah as well as from Palestinian factions. In this context, a mechanism was recently announced during a visit from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to disarm the Palestinian refugee camps.
Security and welcoming Gulf visitors
Congratulating the "return of Lebanon" to the Arab fold, Salam added wanting "a Lebanon rooted in its Arab identity and belonging, open to the world and able to become a bridge between East and West, aspiring to the active return of its Arab brothers, in a spirit of partnership and complementarity."
To strengthen these bonds of trust with the Gulf countries, Salam specifically announced the reinforcement of security measures and an improvement in reception procedures at Beirut International Airport (AIB), "with the aim of facilitating the return of tourists and investors" from this region.
Abu Dhabi announced on May 4 to lift the travel ban on its citizens to Lebanon, raising hopes among Lebanese authorities and various sectors for an influx of Emirati and Gulf tourists in general during the summer. Emiratis had been regularly prohibited by their country from traveling to Lebanon since 2021, amid a cooling of relations with Gulf monarchies, fueled by Iranian-Saudi tensions and Hezbollah's influence on Lebanese politics. The last such ban was in August 2023, just weeks before the war between Hezbollah and Israel began.
Creation of a ministry dedicated to artificial intelligence
The occupant of the Grand Serail also called, still on LBCI microphone, for a modernization of the public administration and announced the upcoming creation of a ministry specifically dedicated to Artificial Intelligence and Information Technology. "We are here in the Emirates to learn and adapt the best practices in the field of artificial intelligence," he added. Currently, within the government, the Minister of the Displaced, Karim Shehadeh, is also responsible for the artificial intelligence portfolio, which did not previously exist.
Additionally speaking at the Arab Media Summit, Salam advocated for "ethical and rigorous" journalism, at a time when social networks have become vectors of misinformation. "We need media that places truth above any other consideration, that is, responsible media that are not swayed by rumors nor instrumentalized for provocation or falsification. We do not ask media to be loyal, but to be professional, honest, and committed to the truth," he declared before an audience of journalists and Arab officials.
The former president of the International Court of Justice highlighted the close link between the mission of magistrates and that of journalists: "Truth is not built on assumptions, and the path to justice begins by detaching from passions and personal interests."
Meeting with the Sheikh of al-Azhar
On the sidelines of the summit, Salam met with Ahmad al-Tayeb, the Sheikh of al-Azhar, a major figure in Sunni Islam, to discuss regional issues related to stability and social cohesion. At the end of this meeting, he emphasized the importance of promoting a culture of dialogue and openness to counter extremist rhetoric.
As the Prime Minister continued his visit to the Emirates, Aoun received an Emirati delegation on Tuesday. According to the Baabda press office, the head of state commended during this meeting "the interest expressed by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed in supporting Lebanon, which confirms the depth of fraternal relations between the two countries." For him, the presence of this delegation in Beirut is "a tangible expression of this relationship, which is growing day by day."
Meeting with Bin Zayed
Salam held talks with the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, to discuss “ways to strengthen bilateral relations and open new horizons for cooperation in various fields, especially in economy and development,” according to Lebanon’s official state-run National News Agency (NNA).
Salam praised the UAE’s leading experience in sustainable development, technology, and governance, and expressed Lebanon’s interest in benefiting from it to support the country’s progress. The two leaders also stressed the importance of strengthening joint Arab action in the face of regional and international challenges and emphasized the need for ongoing coordination to serve the interests of Arab peoples and promote stability and development in the region.
Salam thanked bin Zayed for lifting the travel ban on Emirati citizens visiting Lebanon, affirming that “Lebanon’s doors are open to all Arab brothers.” He also praised the UAE for hosting tens of thousands of Lebanese who live and work there in peace and stability.
While the Prime Minister continued his visit to the Emirates, Aoun received an Emirati delegation in Beirut on Tuesday. According to Baabda’s press office, the president welcomed Sheikh Mohammed’s commitment to supporting Lebanon, calling it a reflection of the deep fraternal ties between the two countries. He added that the delegation’s visit to Beirut is “a concrete expression of this growing relationship.”