UAE reopens embassy in Lebanon’s Beirut after being closed since 2021

The UAE Embassy in Beirut has officially resumed diplomatic activities for the first time in over three years, the Emirates News Agency (WAM) said on Friday.

The Embassy closed in October 2021.

“Omar Obaid Al Shamsi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, underlined that the reopening of the embassy represents an important step in advancing bilateral cooperation between the two countries, demonstrating the UAE’s commitment to supporting the stability and development of Lebanon” WAM reported.

Al Shamsi also said the embassy’s reopening reflected the close ties between the two countries and enhanced opportunities for collaboration across various sectors.

A high-ranking delegation from the UAE arrived in Lebanon earlier this month to facilitate arrangements for reopening the Gulf nation’s embassy in Beirut, a day after UAE President Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed held a phone call with newly elected Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. Sheikh Mohamed congratulated Aoun on his election and they agreed that the embassy would be reopened after UAE withdrew its diplomats from the country in 2021.

Separately on Friday, Emirates Airline said it would resume flights to Beirut on February 1 after a four-month suspension triggered by the Hezbollah-Israel war.