Saudi Arabia has lifted a five-year ban on Lebanese imports, a significant step toward repairing relations with Gulf states. The 2021 restrictions began after Riyadh said drug traffickers hid more than 5 million Captagon tablets in a shipment of pomegranates and were later widened following critical remarks by a Lebanese official. Riyadh cited “positive steps taken by the Lebanese state” for reversing the ban, while Lebanese authorities said the move should help revive the economy and support exporters.
Saudi Arabia Lifts Five-Year Ban On Lebanese Imports, Signaling A Thaw In Gulf-Lebanon Ties
FILE - In this photo released by the Lebanese Presidency press office, Saudi's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman accompanies Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, left, upon his arrival to the Royal Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, March 3, 2025. (Lebanese Presidency press office via AP, File)(Lebanese Presidency Press Office via AP)
BEIRUT (AP) — Saudi Arabia on Wednesday announced it has lifted a ban that barred most Lebanese goods from entering the kingdom for five years, a major step toward restoring strained ties between Lebanon and Gulf states.
Riyadh first restricted fruit and vegetable shipments from Lebanon in 2021, alleging they had been used to traffic narcotics. In a widely reported incident at the time, Saudi authorities said they discovered more than 5 million tablets of the amphetamine known as Captagon concealed inside a consignment of pomegranates shipped from Lebanon.
Within months the measure was broadened to cover virtually all Lebanese exports after then-information minister George Kordahi publicly criticized Saudi actions against Iran-backed fighters in Yemen. The decision came amid broader regional rivalry with Iran and concerns in Riyadh about the influence of the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Why The Ban Was Lifted
Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry said the reversal was ordered by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and credited "positive steps taken by the Lebanese state" for prompting the change. The statement did not specify those steps.
"The decision follows positive steps taken by the Lebanese state," the Saudi statement said.
Lebanese authorities have in recent months announced intentions to disarm armed non-state groups, including Hezbollah, and the Lebanese army reported some progress implementing parts of that plan in southern Lebanon prior to the latest escalation between Israel and Hezbollah.
Potential Economic Impact
Lebanese officials welcomed the decision, saying it is expected to help revive the battered national economy by restoring export markets and supporting producers and exporters. The move also follows efforts by Lebanon's current government to repair relations with Gulf partners and to attract Gulf tourists back to the country as part of an economic recovery push.
While the lifting of the ban is a diplomatic breakthrough, details about the precise measures Riyadh relied on were not disclosed, leaving questions about implementation and monitoring of shipments moving forward.
Context: The ban on Lebanese goods occurred at a time when Lebanon was grappling with a severe financial crisis and a sharp decline in the value of its currency. Restored trade links with Gulf countries could provide a meaningful economic lifeline if sustained.
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