The first known attempt to form the Union was in 1951 when the late Kaysar Antoun Chalhoub, later president of the Union, Maroun Boutros Chalhoub, Fares Samia Chalhoub, Fouad Naamtallah Chalhoub, Georges Kaysar Chalhoub, Antoun Saad Chalhoub, Ibrahim Chalhoub, Elias Antoun Chalhoub and Wadih Elias Chalhoub gathered around that noble idea. But certain difficulties did not allow them achieve their goal.

The Union remained just a dream. The difficulties that were present did not discourage us from trying to overcome them. The second attempt proved to be successful. Prior to 1969 I was in Diaspora where I gained experience in founding Foundations and Universal Associations. I helped found the Lebano-Cuban friendship association, the Union of the Lebanese Associations in America (FIAL) and the World Lebanese Cultural Union (WLCU). Upon returning in 1969 I was determined to bring to life the dream that had stuck with me since childhood. A dream that was created through the stories I had heard from my father as a child. Stories describing our history, the Chalhoub history.

The first person I talked to, about forming the Union was Mr. Asad Gerges Chalhoub, Mexico Honorary Consul in Lebanon, who led me to Mr. Kaysar Antoun Chalhoub.