As the economic and political crisis in Lebanon deepens, Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri is grasping for any means to form a stable government and get access to international financial support.

In February, Hariri—the leader of the Future Movement—flew to Qatar, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in a bid to secure political and financial backing. 

Since his designation as prime minister last October, Hariri has been working on a rapprochement with Gulf Arab states. The latter includes Saudi Arabia, a country that has so far refused to receive him...