Saudi Arabia considering lifting ban on Lebanon imports, resuming travel

Saudi Arabia is considering lifting its ban on imports from Lebanon and on Saudi nationals visiting the Levantine country, amid a potential revival in diplomatic relations between Riyadh and Beirut.

On Monday, new Lebanese President Joseph Aoun arrived in Saudi Arabia on what was his first foreign trip since he took office, signalling a desire by Lebanon to rebuild relations with the Gulf kingdom that had for so long financially supported it until a few years ago.

Following Aoun’s meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman the next day, the state-run Saudi Press Agency (SPA) released a joint statement which said “the two sides agreed to start studying the obstacles facing the resumption of exports from the Lebanese Republic to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the measures necessary to allow Saudi citizens to travel to” Lebanon.

Relations between the two countries significantly deteriorated back in 2021, with Riyadh both expressing opposition to Hezbollah’s dominance in Lebanon and the smuggling of narcotics through Lebanese agricultural produce imported into the kingdom.

Those issues led to Riyadh suspending fruit and vegetable imports from Lebanon, as well as mandating Saudi nationals to seek permission before travelling to the country.

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