The UAE and Lebanon sign an agreement to establish a Joint Business Council focused on boosting trade, investment and private-sector partnerships. The council will identify growth sectors, connect investors and support joint ventures between businesses.
The United Arab Emirates and Lebanon have agreed to establish a Joint UAE-Lebanon Business Council to strengthen trade, investment and private-sector cooperation between the two countries. The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the UAE-Lebanon Business Forum in Beirut.
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Abdallah Sultan Al Owais, Vice Chairman of the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Chairman of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Mohamed Choucair, Chairman of the Federation of the Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Lebanon.
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The new council will provide an institutional platform for businesses from both countries to exchange market intelligence, expertise and information on investment opportunities. It will also facilitate direct engagement between investors and entrepreneurs and encourage strategic partnerships and joint ventures.
A key objective of the council will be to identify high-priority and high-growth sectors where UAE and Lebanese companies can collaborate. The initiative is expected to help build a stronger pipeline of investment projects, commercial ventures and business partnerships while supporting greater two-way trade and investment flows.
The agreement comes as the UAE and Lebanon work to rebuild and expand their economic relationship. Bilateral non-oil trade reached $4.2 billion in 2025, representing a 35.6% increase from the previous year, highlighting growing commercial momentum between the two markets.
The UAE-Lebanon Business Forum brought together government officials and business leaders from both countries to explore opportunities for economic cooperation, improve market access and encourage investment. Four additional MoUs were also signed during the forum covering various economic areas.
Several sectors have emerged as potential areas for increased investment, including logistics, agriculture, energy, aviation and tourism. UAE businesses are increasingly exploring opportunities in Lebanon as the country seeks to attract investment and rebuild key parts of its economy.
The UAE has historically been a significant investor in Lebanon. Between 2003 and 2016, it was the largest Arab source of foreign direct investment in the country, with investments estimated at $7.8 billion. The renewed business engagement signals an effort to restore and expand these economic links.
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The council is expected to strengthen business-to-business connectivity by helping companies identify potential partners, understand market opportunities and pursue joint ventures. It could also provide a structured mechanism for the private sectors of both countries to maintain regular engagement and identify new areas of cooperation.
The establishment of the Joint Business Council therefore represents another step in the UAE-Lebanon economic rapprochement. By connecting investors, entrepreneurs and businesses, the initiative aims to convert growing diplomatic and commercial engagement into concrete investment projects and stronger bilateral trade.