UAE lifts Lebanon travel ban

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UAE lifts Lebanon travel ban

June 30, 2026

DUBAI,— The United Arab Emirates lifted its travel ban on Lebanon, the country’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a statement on Monday, allowing citizens to visit the country again starting June 29, 2026.

The UAE banned its citizens from traveling to Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon in April 2006 due to regional tensions related to the Iran war.

The Foreign Ministry did not say why the Lebanon restriction was lifted now while bans on Iran and Iraq travel remain in place.

The ministry said citizens must sign up for the Twajudi tracking service before leaving the country.

Travelers cannot exit through UAE airports, seaports or border crossings without finishing this registration.

Those who skip it could have their travel plans halted and may face legal consequences, the ministry warned.

The ministry asked travelers to give complete details through Twajudi, including their address in Lebanon and contact information to use in an emergency.

Citizens also need to tell the ministry once they return home and keep their travel information current if plans change.

For urgent situations abroad, the ministry pointed citizens to a 24 hour hotline at +971 80024, set up to help UAE nationals overseas get fast support when needed.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry called Lebanon a sisterly nation in its announcement, language commonly used in Gulf diplomatic statements to describe close ties between Arab countries.

Critics say the mandatory Twajudi system goes beyond a basic safety tool.

They argue that forcing citizens to disclose travel plans, destinations and return details with no option to opt out gives the state near total visibility into people’s movements, raising concerns about surveillance and limits on personal freedom in the UAE.