DUBAI: Emirati nationals will soon be able to travel to Lebanon following the lifting of a travel restriction that was in place since 2021 due to diplomatic tensions, as reported by the official WAM news outlet on Sunday.
This development comes after a meeting between Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, during which the decision to revoke the travel ban was made public.
The travel restriction was initially enacted by the United Arab Emirates in 2021, coinciding with the withdrawal of its diplomatic personnel from Beirut in response to a Lebanese minister’s remarks regarding Saudi Arabia’s military involvement in Yemen.
While Lebanese citizens faced no outright ban on traveling to the UAE, some encountered challenges in securing visas.
Relations between Lebanon and the UAE had deteriorated over the past ten years, particularly due to the influence of Hezbollah in Lebanon.
However, with Hezbollah’s position weakened following its recent conflict with Israel, the UAE is now the latest Gulf nation to express renewed interest in Lebanon.