In moments like these, words are never easy.
Watching what Lebanon is going through hurts deeply. Lebanon is not just the country I come from. It is my roots, my childhood, the streets that shaped me, the food that inspired my journey, the family memories that live inside me every single day. Seeing my country face hardship and uncertainty is painful for every Lebanese, wherever we are in the world.
Today I write these words from Dubai. A city and a country that have given my family and me something incredibly valuable during difficult times: peace of mind. The United Arab Emirates is a place where safety, order, and respect for people are not just promises but a reality you feel every day. The way the country is led, the way things are handled, and the sense of stability you feel living here are truly remarkable.
Dubai is more than a place where I currently live. It is the place I consciously chose to build my life in. The place I chose to raise my children and build their future. As a father, nothing matters more than knowing your family is safe and that your kids are growing up in an environment full of opportunity, stability, and vision. Living here reassures me every day that this was the right decision, without the slightest doubt.
At the same time, my heart will always belong to Lebanon. No matter where I go in the world, Lebanon lives inside me. It is part of my identity, my inspiration, and the reason NoGarlicNoOnions exists in the first place. Our culture, our food, our creativity, and our people deserve to be celebrated, even in difficult times.
Like every Lebanese abroad, I watch with a heavy heart but also with hope. Lebanon has always been a country of resilience. A country that refuses to give up, no matter how many storms it faces.
Today I am grateful for the safety and stability that Dubai and the United Arab Emirates provide for my family. And at the same time, I keep Lebanon in my thoughts and prayers, hoping to see the day when it shines again the way we all know it can.
Anthony Rahayel
Founder of NoGarlicNoOnions
