On Wednesday, the United Arab Emirates became the first Gulf country to open an embassy in Israel, in a historic gesture hailed by business leaders from both countries.
Under the Abraham Accords, crafted by then-US President Donald Trump's administration, the UAE and Bahrain repaired relations with Israel last year.
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In a flag-raising ceremony attended by Israel's president on Wednesday, the UAE formally opened its embassy in Tel Aviv, with its envoy hailing the commercial and investment potential that stronger ties will bring.
After raising his country's flag outside the building, UAE ambassador Mohamed Al Khaja remarked, "Since the normalization of ties...we have seen for the first time discussions on trade and investment opportunities."
“We reached major agreements in several areas, including the economy, air travel, technology, and culture.”
According to Israeli President Isaac Herzog, the opening of the embassy is "an important milestone in our journey towards the future, peace, prosperity, and security" in the Middle East.
“A year ago, seeing the Emirati flag flying proudly in Tel Aviv might have seemed like a far-fetched dream,” he remarked. “Nothing could be more natural and normal in many ways.”
During a two-day visit to the UAE last month, Israel's new foreign minister, Yair Lapid, also inaugurated the country's embassy.
Prominent business leaders from both countries have applauded the initiative.
“It is extremely exciting to see that less than a year after the historic Abraham Accords were announced, today a UAE embassy is opening in Israel,” said Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, deputy mayor of Jerusalem and co-founder of the UAE-Israel Business Council. The embassy will formalize and formalize the close bonds that exist between ordinary Israelis and Emiratis daily.”
The action was also lauded by Dorian Barak, co-founder of the UAE-Israel Business Council, as "an important milestone in the development of economic ties between the two countries."
“Embassies are critical to bilateral trade because they assist with document authentication, regulatory submissions, and other administrative matters that underpin international trade, in addition to their symbolic importance as an outpost of the UAE here in Tel Aviv. This is a must-have for businesses who want their economic relationships to thrive.”
