The hall of Beirut Airport on Dec. 19, 2025. (Archive photo: Philippe Hage Boutros/L'Orient-Le Jour)
The United Arab Emirates has lifted, with effect since Monday, June 29, the ban on its nationals traveling to Lebanon, a decision described by Beirut as a “renewal of confidence” in the Lebanese state, just a few days after the signing of the framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel, which provides, in particular, for the disarmament of Hezbollah alongside Israel’s withdrawal from the South.
The United Arab Emirates will allow its citizens to travel to Lebanon starting Monday, the official WAM news agency reported.
UAE citizens planning to visit Lebanon must register through an official service, an emergency and support platform set up by the Foreign Ministry, before their departure, the agency said.
The Emirati ministry specifies in a message published on its website that “registration with the ‘Tawajudi’ service ’ service [provided by the Foreign Ministry to facilitate communication with UAE nationals abroad, particularly in the event of repatriation] is mandatory prior to travel, and that it is not possible to leave the country via official border crossings before completing this registration, in order to avoid any suspension of travel procedures or legal proceedings.”
“Emirati citizens are also required to notify the relevant authorities of their return via the ‘Tawajudi’ service and to update their details in the event of any changes,” the ministry states.
On April 30, the UAE banned its citizens from traveling to Iran, Lebanon, and Iraq, and urged Emiratis present in those countries to leave immediately and return home, citing the evolving regional situation.
'A message of confidence'
Following the announcement of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, “on behalf of the Lebanese State," extended his “most sincere thanks to His Highness Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al-Nahyan (MBZ) for his generous decision to allow citizens of the United Arab Emirates to travel to their second home, Lebanon,” in a message posted on his X account. According to him, the decision reflects the strength of the fraternal relations and historical ties that unite the two countries and “constitutes a clear sign of the United Arab Emirates’ renewed confidence in Lebanon."
In a more political statement, the Lebanese Foreign Minister Joe Rajji (Lebanese Forces), hailed the announcement by the Gulf state — a strategic ally of Israel — as a “message of confidence in a state that has regained control of its political and security decisions,” three days after the Lebanese state signed a framework agreement with Israel providing for the disarmament of Hezbollah alongside Israel’s withdrawal from the South. “As the state strengthens its presence, consolidates its sovereignty and continues on its path of stability and reform, brotherly and friendly nations are rallying more closely behind it, and states are re-establishing ties with Lebanon in full confidence, convinced that the future of this country lies in a strong state and a unified national decision,” the minister continued.
On Saturday MBZ had assured Lebanese President Joseph Aoun of Abu Dhabi’s “support” for Beirut, as well as “for the positions adopted by the Lebanese Presidency and Government.” He also gave assurances that his country was “ready to assist Lebanon politically, economically and socially” to enable it to “overcome the difficulties it is facing."
In 2021, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Kuwait had recalled their diplomats following controversial remarks by former Information Minister Georges Cordahi regarding the war waged by Saudi Arabia in Yemen against the Houthi rebels, and to signal their disapproval of Hezbollah’s influence on Lebanese politics. Tensions eased with the accession of Aoun to power in January 2025 and the formation of Salam’s government the following month; both had pledged, upon taking office, to disarm Hezbollah.
