Saudi Arabia and Lebanon have announced the formation of a joint business council, a move seen as a step toward restoring economic cooperation after years of strained relations.
Business leaders say the initiative reflects Riyadh’s intention to re-engage with Beirut and open new channels for trade and investment.
Raouf Abou Zaki, President of the Lebanese-Saudi Business Council, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the announcement “goes beyond a procedural step to signal a gradual warming of ties."
He added that the council “lays the foundation for a new phase of partnership between the two countries.”
Abou Zaki recently visited Riyadh, where he met Hassan Al-Huwaizi, President of the Federation of Saudi Chambers, and Secretary-General Waleed Alorainan.
The meetings resulted in an agreement in principle to hold a joint council session. He described this as “a clear sign of Saudi Arabia’s willingness to reconnect and restore economic relations to their natural track.”
He stressed that while Saudi Arabia advances its Vision 2030 transformation, Lebanon urgently needs Arab, and particularly Saudi support to drive reforms and rebuild its economy.
The joint council is expected to serve as a key platform for boosting trade flows, attracting investments, and creating partnerships in infrastructure, finance, tourism, energy, and technology.
Lebanese business leaders believe the initiative could deliver a much-needed boost to the country’s struggling economy and return it to the regional investment map.
According to Abou Zaki, the move reflects “implicit support for Lebanon’s stability and encouragement to continue economic and administrative reforms demanded by the international community.”
He also framed it as part of Riyadh’s broader strategy to strengthen Arab economic integration in the face of global challenges.
Abou Zaki stressed that naming members to the council “is not just a protocol measure but a message of reassurance that Lebanon remains part of its Arab environment, and that the Kingdom still views it as a vital market and a potential regional hub once conditions allow.”
He added that reactivating the council “marks an important step in putting Saudi-Lebanese relations back on track, turning the page on stagnation, and opening new prospects for political and economic stability.”
