UAE Ambassador presents his credentials to Aoun

BEIRUT — The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates announced that the UAE's ambassador to Lebanon, Fahd al-Kaabi, presented his credentials to President Joseph Aoun on Thursday, during an official ceremony held at the Baabda Palace, according to the state-run National News Agency (NNA).

Aoun also received, during the same ceremony, the credentials of five other newly appointed ambassadors to Lebanon: Mongolian Ambassador Bulgan Enkhtuvshin, Beninese Ambassador Adam Bagoudou Zakari, Panamanian Ambassador Jose Ulises Lescure, New Zealand Ambassador Louise Elizabeth Searle, and Mauritanian Ambassador al-Talib al-Mukhtar Sheikh Muhammad Al-Mujtaba.

Kaabi was appointed on Sept. 8 by UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Lebanon's minister of foreign affairs, Joe Rajji, received Kaabi's credentials on Oct. 1.

The UAE announced in January 2025 the reopening of its embassy in Lebanon, following years of closure due to tensions with Hezbollah and its allies. In 2021, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait recalled their diplomats from Lebanon following controversial remarks made by former Information Minister George Kurdahi concerning Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen, for which it stands accused of war crimes by the U.N. and several international humanitarian organizations.

Aoun wished Ambassador Kaabi success in his mission and in strengthening and expanding bilateral relations across the various fields that unite the two countries, affirming Lebanon’s readiness to provide all possible support to facilitate his work.

For his part, Kaabi expressed his pride in representing the UAE in Lebanon and his commitment to "strengthening and expanding bilateral relations across all fields in a way that contributes to deepening the bonds of friendship between the two brotherly nations."

Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam visited Abu Dhabi in April and May, respectively. Since taking office on Jan. 9, the president has also visited Saudi Arabia and Qatar, aiming to rebuild strained ties with Gulf monarchies.

According to NNA, the ambassadors of the five other countries conveyed to Aoun greetings from their respective heads of state and wished him success in his national responsibilities, affirming their commitment to strengthening the relations between Lebanon and their countries. Aoun, in turn, sent his greetings to their heads of state and wished the ambassadors success in their diplomatic missions.