Lebanese businessmen praise historic ties with UAE

Dubai: Top Lebanese businessmen in the UAE have significantly praised what they describe as "well-built and historic relations" between the two countries which will remain unaffected by any shortcomings.

A number of senior Lebanese expatriate members of the Emirati-Lebanese Friendship Association (ELFA) and the Lebanese Business Council (LBC) confirmed the countries' strong ties and reiterated the mutual contributions and respect of laws, regulations and sovereignties.

Discussing the historic ties between Lebanon and the UAE, Gulf News interviewed a cross-section of businessmen, who expressed their viewpoints concerning the ongoing relationship between the countries especially in light of the local authorities' recent measures asking a number of Lebanese expatriates to leave the UAE.

Elias Bu Sa'ab, executive vice-president of the American University in Dubai and a founding member of the ELFA, said the relationship between the two countries has been strong and remains excellent.

He said they had been in contact with many Lebanese politicians who showed appreciation for what the UAE has done for Lebanon and commended the UAE's continuous support and assistance during Lebanon's most difficult times.

Negative exposure

Concerning the recent deportees' issue, Bu Sa'ab said following several meetings with key officials, the ELFA spearheaded efforts to defuse the negative media exposure concerning the deportees' issue in Lebanon, as they believe "resolving this humanitarian matter can better be achieved away from the media".

Bu Sa'ab told Gulf News: "The contacts resulted in a trip to Lebanon during which we [I and a number of Lebanese businessmen] met officials and it was unanimously agreed that the UAE's sovereignty should be respected and at the same time to be fair to the deportees and resolve their matter soon. Our talks succeeded in calming the situation and paving the way for the visit of the Lebanese Speaker of the House, Nabih Berri, to the UAE."

He said the Lebanese community has and still plays an important role herein and in all sectors — financial, educational, economic, social, cultural and others.

"The Lebanese community is a prime one and respected here in the UAE and Emiratis who visit Lebanon feel the same. Members of the Lebanese community in the UAE feel they are in their second home and, likewise, Emiratis feel appreciated and respected in Lebanon."

The famous ‘Lebanon should come back' statement by Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan in the early '90s is what Sa'ad Zain, a businessman and member of ELFA, keeps remembering since he came to the UAE in 1989.

"We feel this is our second home, but ultimately it is our first home in terms of achieving and growing in our careers. My children were born and are being raised and educated here. Since I started working here, I, like many other members of our community herein, feel constantly supported by the local authorities. They are very supportive," said Zain.

The two countries have attained many achievements in tourism, investment, trade, schooling and university education, social and cultural ties and many others, he added.

"The UAE Government has always been amongst the first to support us on many fronts such as the de-mining project, mobile hospitals, social and medical aides especially during times of war in Lebanon," added Zain.

Regarding the deportees' issue, Zain said in general people should respect laws and adhere to the authorities' regulations.

"We are here to make a living… we are benefiting ourselves and securing our future. We helped develop a country that accepted and respected us in its community. The UAE has always opened its arms to the Lebanese, in particular, especially at times when lots of doors were closed in our faces,|" he said.

Dr Adnan Kaddaha, managing director of Cedars Jebel Ali Hospital and former president of the LBC/Dubai, said both countries needed no proof concerning the excellent relations they had established through the years.

Having spent 30 years in the country, he said his emotional attachment to the UAE was not to be questioned or to be proven.

"I have put up a project that will go on for years whether I am physically present or not in the UAE, because the UAE is a land of opportunities and what is offered herein cannot be offered anywhere else. When I speak of Lebanese-Emirati relations, I cannot be neutral or indifferent, through the years I am quite aware of what the Emirates has contributed to Lebanon and mainly during times of war. They have received the Lebanese, who escaped wars, with open arms. The Lebanese have always been grateful to this country and made their contribution to the UAE's development. Their fingerprints are present in every industry and in any walk of life and across all services," he said.

Helping hand

Concerning the issue of the deportees, Dr Kaddaha said the laws of any country should be respected. He went on to say in general it was a question of whether the measures were justified or unjustified, but as an individual he could not comment on that aspect. "The Emirati authorities have always been fair. And I have no reason to feel unsafe here," he said.

Fadi Ghosn, deputy general manager of the Bank of Sharjah and member of the Lebanese Business Council/Dubai and ELFA, said the ties between the two countries had always been brotherly.

"The UAE has been and remains a direction of opportunity and place of hope for Lebanese people. It has always had an open door policy for the various factions of the Lebanese community," he said.

He lauded the achievements between the two countries, emphasising that the UAE has always lent Lebanon a helping hand without any return whatsoever in different sectors and during times of war.

"The UAE is the only regional power that has no agenda in Lebanon… their policy has always been helping and supporting without return. This represents the country's values and its leaders' visions since its establishment."

Discussing the issue of the deportees, he said: "According to the latest estimates, there are more than 100,000 Lebanese citizens residing here. I believe the incident was minimal and against a small faction. I don't believe this issue will affect the ties between the two countries… it won't and shouldn't have an influence."

Ghosn said: "During my 20 years' stay in the UAE, I have always felt I am living in a free country and have never faced any trouble… as long as the country's laws and sovereignty are constantly respected."

He acclaimed the Lebanese community's role in the UAE's growth and development.

"It has always been instrumental and productive in coping with the economic development of the UAE… we have played an important and constructive role in all sorts of development. Gassan Aridi, an ELFA member, said relations between the two countries have always been good.

"The Emiratis have done a lot for us in different sectors such as education, the de-mining project, mobile hospitals, construction and others. Their hearts have always been open for the Lebanese. They have always treated us well and given job opportunities to fresh graduates and still do. Meanwhile, Lebanese expatriates in the UAE have always been pioneers and excelled in different fields such as tourism, IT, economy, education, health, marketing, banking and others," said Aridi who has spent 18 years in the UAE.

On the issue of the deportees, he said: "We should respect their decision. They deem what they have done as necessary. We assure none of us supports any unlawful act. In the meantime, we would like to care for the rights of the Lebanese and have them preserved and to be treated fairly."

Aridi, CEO of Alpha Tours, maintained everybody understands the situation very well, and in conclusion what happened will not and should not affect the two countries' ties.