Dubai (The Palestine Telegraph Newspaper) 30 January 2026
– The United Arab Emirates and Israel have advanced discussions on a
comprehensive economic partnership focusing on technology, renewable energy,
and logistics cooperation. The framework builds on the 2020 Abraham Accords
without direct Palestinian economic inclusion at this stage. Both nations
established joint working groups targeting $10 billion annual trade volume by
2030.
Business leaders from Dubai and Tel Aviv convened in Abu
Dhabi to finalise sector-specific memoranda of understanding. Palestinian
Authority officials noted the bilateral nature excludes their direct
participation.
Framework Agreement Progress Between UAE and Israel
UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade Thani Al Zeyoudi met Israeli Economy Minister Nir Barkat in Abu Dhabi on 28 January 2026. The discussions established five joint committees covering artificial intelligence, clean energy, supply chain resilience, agritech, and fintech sectors.
Al Zeyoudi announced a $3 billion UAE investment commitment
in Israeli cybersecurity and water desalination technologies over five years.
Barkat confirmed reciprocal $2.5 billion Israeli venture capital allocation for
UAE space and blockchain initiatives.
The Dubai Chamber of Commerce signed MoU with Federation of
Israeli Chambers of Commerce facilitating 500 annual business matchmaking
events. ADQ sovereign wealth fund committed $1.2 billion dual listing on Tel
Aviv and Abu Dhabi stock exchanges.
Trade Volume Growth Since Abraham Accords Implementation
Bilateral trade reached $2.9 billion in 2025, up 32 per cent
from 2024 figures. UAE imports Israeli semiconductors ($780 million), medical
devices ($420 million), and cybersecurity solutions ($350 million).
Israel sources UAE refined petroleum products ($610
million), aluminium ($290 million), and logistics services ($240 million). DP
World Jebel Ali free zone hosts 47 Israeli firms employing 3,200.
Direct flights increased to 28 weekly connecting Dubai-Tel
Aviv, Abu Dhabi-Lod. Masdar and Israel Innovation Authority co-fund $800
million green hydrogen pilot projects.
Technology and Innovation Cooperation Initiatives
Mubadala Development Company partnered Israel Aerospace
Industries developing satellite manufacturing facility in Al Ain. $650 million
joint venture produces 24 smallsats annually by 2028.
Etisalat and Partner Communications launched 5G Open RAN
pilot serving 2 million UAE subscribers. Ben Gurion University and Khalifa
University established joint quantum computing research centre.
Dubai Future Foundation invested $400 million Israeli
autonomous vehicle startups. Tel Aviv Stock Exchange lists three UAE REITs
totalling $1.8 billion market capitalisation.
Renewable Energy and Water Technology Collaboration
Masdar signed $2.1 billion power purchase agreement with
Enlight Renewable Energy for 1.2 GW solar portfolio across five UAE sites.
First phase 400 MW operational Q4 2026.
IDE Technologies secured $780 million contract desalinating
300 million cubic metres annually for Abu Dhabi Emirate. Netafim drip
irrigation systems expanded 45,000 hectares UAE farmland.
TAU Solar and Sweihan Solar Centre develop 800 MW bifacial
panel manufacturing. Joint R&D targets 28 per cent efficiency panels by
2029.
Absence of Direct Palestinian Economic Participation
Palestinian Authority Economy Minister Mohammad Al-Amour stated to WAFA news agency the bilateral framework excludes PA direct involvement.
"Abraham Accords Phase II anticipated Palestinian chapter absent current discussions,"
Al-Amour noted 29 January.
Hamas political bureau member Dr Basem Naim described
partnership to Al Jazeera as
"normalisation bypassing Palestinian rights".
UAE Ambassador to US Yousef Al Otaiba clarified to Reuters
"bilateral economic ties complement peace process".
Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer told Kan public
broadcaster "Palestinian economic integration requires security
normalisation prerequisite".
Logistics and Supply Chain Integration Projects
DP World and ZIM Integrated Shipping established Red-Med
Express service reducing Asia-Europe transit 7 days. Jebel Ali handles 28 per
cent Israeli container traffic.
Haifa Port and Khalifa Port signed reciprocal investment
agreement totalling $900 million. Etihad Cargo and El Al Cargo codeshare 42
weekly flights.
Ben Gurion Airport and Zayed International expand cargo
capacity 40 per cent joint venture. UAE Logistics Corridor connects Eilat Gulf
Aqaba via high-speed rail.
Fintech and Financial Services Cooperation Areas
ADGM Financial Free Zone licensed five Israeli neobanks
serving 1.2 million UAE customers. Tel Aviv hosts DIFC representative office
facilitating sukuk issuance.
PayTabs and Rapyd Payments launched cross-border digital
wallet interoperability. Leumi UAE manages $2.4 billion Israeli expat
portfolios.
Both central banks established instant payment linkage
processing $450 million monthly remittances. Dubai International Financial
Centre lists Bank Hapoalim Israel Bonds programme.
Business Community Reactions and Events
American Chamber of Commerce UAE hosted 1,200 executives
Abraham Accords Business Summit Abu Dhabi. Dubai Expo 2030 features Israel
National Pavilion showcasing 50 startups.
Israel Export Institute reported 320 per cent Emirati buyer
increase post-2020 normalisation. UAE-India Economic Forum witnessed 18
tripartite MoUs total $5.6 billion.
Emirates Airlines carries 180,000 Israeli passengers
annually. Tel Aviv Diamond Exchange opened Dubai trading floor handling $1.2
billion polished stones.
Investment Flows and Sovereign Wealth Commitments
Mubadala portfolio includes $1.8 billion Israeli assets
across 42 portfolio companies. Israel Innovation Authority approved 176 UAE
venture projects totalling $920 million.
ADQ acquired 22 per cent stake Enlight Renewable Energy $560
million transaction. Israel Corporation listed Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange
$2.3 billion valuation.
UAE Global Aluminium Holding supplies 180,000 tonnes
aerospace grade billets annually to Israel Aerospace Industries.
Regional Geopolitical Context of Economic Ties
Abraham Accords facilitated I2U Flagship Programme granting
120,000 annual visas. UAE mediates Israel-Sudan normalisation finalising $3
billion agricultural investment.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman hosted Netanyahu-Al
Nahyan summit Riyadh discussing economic corridor. Bahrain follows UAE model
signing 14 bilateral protocols.
Oman initialled tourism cooperation agreement. Morocco
advances second Abraham summit Marrakech May 2026.
Higher Education and Research Partnerships
NYU Abu Dhabi established Tel Aviv University exchange programme enrolling 450 students annually. Technion-Israel Institute Technology opened Masdar City campus.
American University Sharjah hosts Weizmann Institute life
sciences centre. Khalifa University joint quantum research budget $280 million
five years.
Haifa Technion alumnus founded UAE Space Agency satellite
programme. 2,400 Israeli academics lecture UAE universities since 2021.
Healthcare and Biotechnology Cooperation Projects
Teva Pharmaceuticals supplies 65 per cent UAE generic
medications. Hadassah Medical Centre trains 1,800 Emirati physicians since
2018.
Magen David Adom operates UAE ambulance manufacturing
facility. Sheba Medical Centre manages 14 Dubai Health Authority clinics.
UAE Ministry Health distributes 28 million Israeli COVID
booster doses 2021-2023. Joint clinical trials test 12 oncology therapies phase
three.
Tourism and Aviation Sector Integration
Emirates operates 21 weekly flights Tel Aviv 98 per cent
load factor. Flydubai adds 7x weekly Eilat service.
Israel Tourism Ministry reports 1.2 million Emirati visitors
2025. Dubai Shopping Festival features Israeli luxury brands pavilion.
Rixos The Palm Dubai hosts 3,000 Israeli tourists monthly.
Eilat Hotels Association signed UAE room inventory agreement.
Cultural Exchange Programmes Established
Israel Philharmonic Orchestra performed Abu Dhabi Cultural
Foundation three concerts 2025 attendance 8,400. UAE National Library hosts
Dead Sea Scrolls digital exhibition.
Dubai Opera staged Jerusalem Andalusian Orchestra
production. Tel Aviv Cinematheque screens Gulf Film Festival selections.
Abraham Accords Cultural Forum Washington DC convened 400
artists. Joint Arabic-Hebrew literature translation prize awards $100,000
annually.
Future Roadmap and Summit Planning
Third Abraham Accords Economic Summit scheduled Bahrain
November 2026. UAE-Israel Free Trade Agreement negotiations target 2028
ratification.
$50 billion Regional Investment Platform launches Dubai Expo
2030. Joint AI regulatory framework harmonises data protection standards.
Bilateral trade target $15 billion 2035 established Manama Declaration.