Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed discussed security developments in southern Lebanon and issues concerning both countries during a phone call.
Aoun thanked Mohamed bin Zayed for the UAE’s attention to Lebanon’s needs in various areas and its support to alleviate the hardships faced by the Lebanese people.
Strengthening economic and trade ties
The Lebanese president described the visit to Lebanon by a delegation led by Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, the UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Trade, and the attention shown to the Lebanese delegation that traveled to Abu Dhabi last week as developments reflecting the depth of the fraternal relations between the two countries.
Aoun said the visits would lay the groundwork for more comprehensive cooperation in the economic, trade and investment fields. According to figures provided by the UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Trade, non-oil trade between Lebanon and the UAE reached $4.2 billion in 2025, rising 35.6% year on year.
UAE citizens’ travel to Lebanon
The UAE allowed its citizens to travel to Lebanon on June 29. As the travel ban imposed about two months earlier came to an end, travelers were required to register in advance for the “Tawajudi” service.
On April 30, the UAE had banned its citizens from traveling to Lebanon, Iran and Iraq, citing the ongoing developments in the region.
Developments in southern Lebanon
Developments in Lebanon continued after a framework agreement was signed under US mediation on June 26. The agreement provides for the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory and the deployment of the Lebanese army in those areas.
According to Lebanese authorities, 4,362 people have been killed, 12,378 wounded and more than 1 million displaced in attacks ongoing since March 2.
