LEBANON - UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has invited President Joseph Aoun to attend Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2027 and deliver a speech at its summit.
President Aoun received the written invitation from UAE Ambassador to Lebanon Fahad Salem Saeed Al Kaabi during a meeting at the Presidential Palace in Baabda.
The invitation covers the opening ceremony of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, the presentation of the Zayed Sustainability Prize and participation in the ADSW Summit on January 12 and 13, 2027.
Summit to Focus on Sustainable Development
In his message, Sheikh Mohamed praised Lebanon's efforts and initiatives in sustainability, expressing confidence that President Aoun's participation would contribute to the event's discussions.
According to the Lebanese Presidency, the UAE President said the 2027 gathering aims to promote an economic approach that supports sustainable development and greater prosperity through the integration of technology, policies and investment. He also expressed hope that President Aoun would accept the invitation and visit the UAE.
Hosted by Masdar, Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week brings together government representatives, businesses, financial institutions and civil society to discuss sustainable economic development. Its agenda focuses on areas including energy, water, food security, technology and investment.
Bilateral Economic Cooperation Expands
The invitation follows renewed diplomatic and commercial engagement between the two countries.
In August, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi led an 80-member government and business delegation to Beirut, where he met President Aoun and other Lebanese officials to discuss trade, investment, industrial development and digital transformation.
The delegation included representatives from sectors such as logistics, agriculture, healthcare, renewable energy, aviation, artificial intelligence and tourism.
The visit also included the UAE-Lebanon Business Forum and the inaugural meeting of the Joint UAE-Lebanon Business Council. Four memoranda of understanding were signed, covering business cooperation, food security, agricultural research, agritech and greenhouse technologies.
Lebanese School Among Sustainability Prize Finalists
Lebanon will also be represented at the January gathering through the Zayed Sustainability Prize, which selected Rachaya High School as one of three Middle East and North Africa finalists in its Global High Schools category for the 2027 cycle.
The winners will be announced during the awards ceremony on January 12, 2027, which President Aoun has been invited to attend.
The 2027 edition attracted 10,233 submissions from 177 countries, a 32 percent increase compared with the previous cycle. Finalists were selected across six categories: health, food, energy, water, climate action and Global High Schools.
Under the prize's funding structure, Global High Schools finalists receive $25,000, while winners in each regional category receive $150,000. Winners in the other organizational categories receive $1 million.
The invitation places Lebanon's sustainability initiatives and economic partnerships within a broader regional dialogue, while offering an opportunity to strengthen engagement with international policymakers, investors and technology leaders.
