Israel in Abu Dhabi: Radar blip or breakthrough?

In recent years, the so-called “Arab Spring” uprisings, the Syrian civil war, and the growth of jihadist terror groups like Islamic State have countered the perception that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the root cause of instability in the Middle East. Adding to the mix, mutual concern over the Iran nuclear deal and declining American leadership in the region has made ties between Israel and some Arab states warmer than ever before.

In line with this narrative, Israel recently announced that it is opening its first-ever diplomatic office in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Is the opening of the diplomatic mission in Abu Dhabi a major breakthrough in Israeli relations with the Arab world? Or will long-held Arab beliefs about the Palestinian issue still put a damper on Israeli-Arab relations, despite the common threats and challenges? 

The Israeli office will not formally constitute diplomatic representation to the UAE, but instead to the United Nations International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), which has its headquarters in the Gulf state.

The opening of the mission follows a several-year process by Israel to establish a presence in the UAE. In 2009, Israel supported the UAE’s bid to host the headquarters of IRENA with the understanding that it would eventually allow Israel to have a diplomatic presence in the Gulf state. In 2010, Uzi Landau, then Israel’s minister for infrastructure, participated in an IRENA conference in Abu Dhabi, marking the first time an Israeli cabinet minister had visited the UAE.

Shortly after the visit, the assassination of a Hamas terrorist leader in Dubai, which the UAE blamed on Israel, set back the process. But in 2014, Israeli infrastructure minister Silvan Shalom gave a speech at the IRENA conference in Abu Dhabi. Israel will now be the only country in the 145-member IRENA that will have its diplomatic mission in Abu Dhabi accredited solely to IRENA.