THE Arab Israel conflict began immediately after the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948 and so far there have been numerous skirmishes and full scale wars in 1948, 1967 and 1973.
After decades of enmity and clashes the frontline states in the conflict that is Egypt and Jordan have by now recognized and established diplomatic relations with Israel. Turkey and Iran were the other two Muslim countries to recognize Israel and establish diplomatic relations with them. Since 1948 a vast majority of the Muslim nations including Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have not officially recognized the state of Israel.
In 2020 many gulf countries like Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar also recognized Israel and established diplomatic relations. The Israel–United Arab Emirates normalization agreement, officially the Abraham Accords Peace Agreement: Treaty of Peace, Diplomatic Relations and Full Normalization between the United Arab Emirates and the State of Israel was initially agreed to in a joint statement by the USA, Israel and UAE on August 13th 2020, officially known as the Abraham accord. The UAE thus became the third Arab state after Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994 to establish diplomatic relations with Israel and The UAE is also the first Persian Gulf country to recognize Israel In return Israel agreed to suspend plans for annexing parts of the West Bank. This agreement formalized what had been informal but robust foreign relations between the two countries. This agreement was signed on 15th September 2020 in the White House in Washington DC. It was approved unanimously by the Israeli cabinet on October 12 and was ratified by the Knesset on October 15.The UAE and cabinet ratified the agreement on October 19. The agreement went into effect on January 5, 2021.As of May 2026, this partnership has evolved into significant defense cooperation, including technology transfers and potential air defense support amid regional conflicts, with bilateral trade aiming to exceed US$5 billion.
As early as 1971, the year in which the UAE became an independent country, the first president of the UAE Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan had referred to Israel as “the enemy”. The UAE and the United States had a strategic relationship since the 1990 Gulf War, growing to a significant US Air Force presence at Al Dhafra Air Base after the September 11 attacks. In November 2015, Israel announced that it would open a diplomatic office in the UAE, which would be the first time in more than a decade that Israel had an official presence in the Persian Gulf. During the ongoing Iran-America conflict the UAE became under attack by the Iranian missile and drone batteries Israel agreed to deploy one of its most sensitive military systems. Netanyahu ordered the military to send an iron dome interceptor battery and soldiers to operate it to the UAE after a distress call from President Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan a move that showed how close the two countries are. Now, as the UAE distances itself from its traditional allies because of their stance on the Iran war, Israel sees an unprecedented opportunity to further strengthen its ties.
UAE-Israel bilateral trade has grown rapidly since normalization in 2020, with total non-oil trade exceeding US$2.9 billion in 2023. Despite regional tensions, trade remained robust in 2024, with expectations to hit over $3.2 billion, driven by a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) aimed at increasing volume to $10 billion over five years.
Both countries have rapidly expanded their economic cooperation and trade even during the Israeli brutal onslaught on Ghaza. Both nations have also committed to working together to advance “security and stability” in the region with the goal of allowing their respective states to prosper. In a recently announced deal the UAE’s Edge group will procure the Hermes 900 unmanned aerial vehicle UAV from the Israeli company Elbit Systems including transfer of technology and localized production. This would be the first major defense industrial partnership between the two countries. After finalization it will mark a significant step in deepening strategic alignment, defense cooperation and regional deterrence thus shifting the geopolitical balance in the gulf. This week, the UAE pulled out of the OPEC oil cartel after nearly six decades of membership. Asked by CNN if the group’s de facto leader, Saudi Arabia, was consulted on the move, UAE Minister of Energy Suhail Al Mazrouei said it was a “sovereign national decision.”The UAE supports Israel primarily to strengthen security against common regional threats like Iran, develop economic ties in technology and trade, and align with U.S. strategic interests. Following the 2020 Abraham Accords, this partnership focuses on defense collaboration—including the use of Israeli technology—and diversifying the UAE’s economy beyond oil. As of early 2026, the UAE and seven other Muslim-majority nations (Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Turkey, Indonesia, and Pakistan) have sharply condemned Israeli actions, particularly regarding West Bank annexation, settler violence, and Al-Aqsa Mosque. While maintaining diplomatic ties under the Abraham Accords, the UAE joins this bloc to pressure Israel over its “illegal” policies and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
—The writer is Professor of History, based in Islamabad
