UAE1

General Information

National Identity

Official Language(s)Arabic

National CurrencyLebanese Pound (LBP)

National Day(s)22 November (Independence Day)

Capitals

Political / Administrative CapitalBeirut

Economic CapitalBeirut

Cultural CapitalByblos

Transport & Connectivity

Flight Duration from the UAE≈ 3.5 – 4 h Direct flights

Primary AirportBeirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY)

Primary PortPort of Beirut

Geography

Land Area-

Length of the Coastline225 km

Highest PointQurnat Al-Sawda (3,088 m)

Primary Inland Water Body / RiverLitani River (the longest river in Lebanon; vital for irrigation and hydroelectric power)

ClimateMediterranean

Border Countries

IsraelSyria

2

Last Updated: July 2026Source: Internal Research

Key Facts

Lebanon was home to the ancient Phoenicians, whose alphabet influenced many modern writing systems.

Byblos is one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities.

The cedar tree is Lebanon’s national symbol and appears on its flag.

Lebanon is home to seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Byblos, Baalbek and the Cedars of God.

The Roman temples of Baalbek are among the largest and best-preserved Roman ruins in the world.

Lebanon is famous for the Al-Omari Grand Mosque in Beirut, one of the city’s oldest historic landmarks.

Beirut was once nicknamed “the Switzerland of the Middle East” for its thriving banking sector and strict bank-secrecy laws.

Dabke, a traditional folk dance performed at weddings and celebrations, is an important part of Lebanese culture.

Lebanon is one of the few Middle Eastern countries where visitors can enjoy both skiing in the mountains and swimming in the Mediterranean on the same day.

Lebanon is famous for its beautiful Mediterranean coastline, with beaches, harbors and seaside cities such as Beirut and Jounieh.

Lebanon is one of the oldest wine-producing regions in the world, with a history dating back thousands of years.

Jeita Grotto is a spectacular limestone cave system and one of Lebanon’s most famous natural landmarks.

Last Updated: July 2026Source: Internal Research

Economic Overview

Macroeconomic Snapshot

GDP, current prices-USD Billions

Real GDP growth-Annual percent change (%)

GDP per capita, current prices-USD per capita

Population-Millions of people

General government gross debt-% of GDP

Income levelWorld Bank classification-

Economic Comparison

Indicator	Lebanon	UAE
GDP, current pricesUSD Billions	-	-
GDP, PPPCurrent int$	-	-
Real GDP growthAnnual percent change (%)	-	-
GDP per capita, current pricesUSD per capita	-	-
PopulationMillions of people	-	-
Unemployment rate% of total labor force	-	-
Inflation rate (avg. consumer prices)Annual percent change (%)	-	-
General government gross debt% of GDP	-	-
Income levelWorld Bank classification	-	-

Foreign Trade

No data available for this section yet.

Political Overview

Leadership

Head of State

H.E. Joseph Aoun

Since January 2025

Head of Government

H.E. Dr. Nawaf Salam

Since February 2025

Minister of Foreign Affairs

H.E. Youssef Rajji

Since February 2025

Minister of Finance

H.E. Yassine Jaber

Since February 2025

Minister of Economy and Trade

H.E. Dr. Amer Bisat

Since February 2025

Minister of Defense

H.E. Maj. Gen. Michel Menassa

Since February 2025

Political Summary

Political System

Parliamentary Democratic Republic

A confessional parliamentary democracy in which political power is constitutionally distributed among Lebanon’s main religious communities, with the President a Maronite Christian, the Prime Minister a Sunni Muslim and the Speaker of Parliament a Shia Muslim.

Ruling Party

No single ruling party. The major parliamentary blocs include:Strong Republic / Lebanese Forces (LF): Right-wing (since 2005)Development and Liberation: Center-right (since 1992)

Main Opposition Force(s)

Loyalty to the Resistance (affiliated with Hezbollah): Shia Islamist (since 1992)Strong Lebanon / Free Patriotic Movement (FPM): Right-wing (since 2018)

Next Presidential Election

Expected in 2031

Next Legislative Election

2028

Last Updated: May 2026Source: Internal Research

Membership in Key Organizations and Blocs

49Organizations

25Member

4Founding Member

7Partner, Observer or Participant

13Not a Member

Last Updated: July 2026Source: Official websites of the respective organizations

Competitiveness Indexes

Index	Year	Rank Out of	Lebanon	UAE

No index matches.

Diplomatic Relations and Representation

Date of Establishment of Diplomatic Relations13 Apr 197254 years of relations

UAE Ambassador

H.E. Fahad Salem Saeed Al KaabiUAE Ambassador to Lebanon · Resident

Foreign Ambassador

H.E. Tarek Hassan MneimnehAmbassador of Lebanon to the UAE · Resident

Last Updated: June 2026Source: MoFA; Internal Research

Flights by UAE Carriers

Passenger Flights

October 2026 figures

13Total Weekly Passenger Flights

EYEtihad Airways0

EKEmirates0

FZflydubai7

G9Air Arabia6

Cargo Flights

October 2026 figures

0Total Weekly Cargo Flights

EYEtihad Cargo0

EKEmirates SkyCargo0

Last Updated: October 2026Source: GCAA

Consular Information

	Tourists	Residents	Students	Golden Visa Holders
Lebanon Nationalsin the UAE	-	-	-	-
UAE Citizensin Lebanon	-	-	-	-

Main Agreements and MoUs

Agreement / MOU	Status	Notes
CEPAComprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement	-	-
IPPAInvestment Protection and Promotion Agreement	Ratified	Signed on 17 May 1998.Entered into force on 8 Jul 1999.
DTADouble Taxation Avoidance Agreement	Ratified	Signed on 17 May 1998.Entered into force on 23 Mar 1999.
ASAAir Services Agreement	-	-

Ratified— Signed and entered into force

Signed— Signed, but entry into force or ratification is pending

Not Signed— No signed agreement exists

Last Updated: October 2026Source: Internal Research

UAE Foreign Assistance

UAE Aid to Lebanon	Total Amount
Amount (USD Mn)	-

Bilateral Visits

Official Visits from the UAE

H.E. Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al ZeyoudiMinister of State for Foreign Trade
Aug2026
H.E. Saqr GhobashSpeaker of the Federal National Council
Jul2026
H.E. Saqr GhobashSpeaker of the Federal National Council
Apr2025

Official Visits to the UAE

H.E. Dr. Amer BisatMinister of Economy and Trade of Lebanon
Sep2026
H.E. Kamal ShehadehMinister of Displaced Persons and Minister of State for Technology and Artificial Intelligence of Lebanon
Sep2026
H.E. Dr. Nawaf SalamPrime Minister of Lebanon
Feb2026
H.E. Dr. Ghassan SalameMinister of Culture of Lebanon
Sep2025
H.E. Dr. Nawaf SalamPrime Minister of Lebanon
May2025
H.E. Joseph AounPresident of Lebanon
May2025
H.E. Dr. Ghassan SalameMinister of Culture of Lebanon
Apr2025
H.E. Najib MikatiPrime Minister of Lebanon
Nov2023