Saudi Ambassador, IMF Delegation Discuss Conditions for Lebanon’s Recovery

  Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Lebanon Walid Al-Bukhari met with the visiting IMF delegation, headed by Ernesto Ramirez Rigo. (Markaziah Agency)
Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Lebanon Walid Al-Bukhari met with the visiting IMF delegation, headed by Ernesto Ramirez Rigo. (Markaziah Agency)
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Saudi Ambassador, IMF Delegation Discuss Conditions for Lebanon’s Recovery

  Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Lebanon Walid Al-Bukhari met with the visiting IMF delegation, headed by Ernesto Ramirez Rigo. (Markaziah Agency)
Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Lebanon Walid Al-Bukhari met with the visiting IMF delegation, headed by Ernesto Ramirez Rigo. (Markaziah Agency)

Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Beirut Walid Al-Bukhari discussed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation the necessary conditions for Lebanon's economic recovery.

Al-Bukhari met with the visiting IMF delegation, headed by Ernesto Ramirez Rigo, on Wednesday at his residence in Yarzeh, east of Beirut.

Talks during the meeting touched on the overall developments in Lebanon and the region, the conditions for recovery that the country needs to overcome its political and economic crisis, as well as other issues of common concern.

The delegation met earlier with the chairman of the Finance and Budget Committee in the Lebanese Parliament, MP Ibrahim Kanaan, and the head of the Administration and Justice Committee, MP George Adwan. Discussions focused on the financial and economic situation and the path towards the agreement with the IMF.

In comments following the meeting, Kanaan said: “The two sides agreed on the need to elect a president for the republic as a starting point for restructuring the institutions and producing a homogeneous government team that has a clear road map for financial and economic rescue and implementation of the required reforms.”

He continued: “It is not only related to passing laws to launch the agreement with the IMF, but, more importantly, the possibility of respecting and implementing them to restore local and international confidence, and thus investments.”

In this regard, Kanaan pointed to the need to adopt a different approach and a new monetary policy within the government and the Banque du Liban, stressing the importance of an independent judiciary that “exercises its role in the event of any discrepancy in government work and the Lebanese administration.”



UAE Underscores Support for Lebanon’s Security and Sovereignty

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates and Joseph Aoun, President of Lebanon, stand for a photograph before a meeting at Al Shati Palace, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, April 30, 2025. Abdulla Al Bedwawi /UAE Presidential Court/Handout via REUTERS
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates and Joseph Aoun, President of Lebanon, stand for a photograph before a meeting at Al Shati Palace, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, April 30, 2025. Abdulla Al Bedwawi /UAE Presidential Court/Handout via REUTERS
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UAE Underscores Support for Lebanon’s Security and Sovereignty

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates and Joseph Aoun, President of Lebanon, stand for a photograph before a meeting at Al Shati Palace, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, April 30, 2025. Abdulla Al Bedwawi /UAE Presidential Court/Handout via REUTERS
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates and Joseph Aoun, President of Lebanon, stand for a photograph before a meeting at Al Shati Palace, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, April 30, 2025. Abdulla Al Bedwawi /UAE Presidential Court/Handout via REUTERS

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed has underscored his country’s support for Lebanon’s security, stability and sovereignty, a joint statement said Thursday.

Sheikh Mohamed welcomed Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at Al Shati Palace in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

The statement said that the UAE President expressed hope that the visit would deepen the fraternal relations between the two countries and advance their shared interests and aspirations for progress and prosperity.

Sheikh Mohamed said he was keen to work jointly with Lebanon to foster development, prosperity, security, and regional stability.

According to the statement, Aoun stressed he was ready to continue strengthening bilateral relations.

The two sides discussed ways to foster bilateral relations in various fields, and to develop economic and investment sectors, through joint opportunities, knowledge exchange, and government development.

The UAE’s Government Experience Exchange Office of the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs will visit Beirut to share best practices in government performance and institutional excellence to benefit both countries’ public and private sectors, said the statement.

The two sides also agreed to allow travel for citizens by implementing necessary procedures and mechanisms to ease movement between the two countries.

Both sides expressed their aspiration to raise the level of mutual diplomatic representation and agreed to establish a joint UAE-Lebanon Business Council. The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development will send a delegation to Lebanon to explore and assess available joint cooperation projects.

Sheikh Mohamed reaffirmed Lebanon’s strategic importance within the Arab world, affirming that Lebanon is a key pillar of joint Arab action.