Israel wants a 'land corridor of peace' with UAE to build on developing links

Envoy to the UAE says goods could reach Israel through the proposed route in three days

Eitan Naeh, Israel's envoy to the UAE. Wam

Israel wants to create a "corridor of peace" with the UAE to build on developing links, Israel's envoy has said.

Eitan Naeh, head of mission at the Israeli Embassy in Abu Dhabi, said a trade corridor linking eastern Arabia and Israel could lead to great possibilities for trade and tourism.

Mr Naeh said Israel was interested in a land route that can take goods from the UAE to Israel in three days.

"It all has to be investigated," Mr Naeh told the state news agency Wam. "Business communities in Israel and the UAE are now looking into ways to increase trade. Each country brings its relative advantage. We have trade agreements with the West [US and European Union]. You are an opening to the East. So, it is a huge market," said the 57-year-old diplomat who had earlier served as the Israeli ambassador to Azerbaijan and Turkey as well as the deputy head of mission at the embassy in London.

Links between both countries are developing rapidly since the Abraham Accord was signed in September last year.

The UAE will soon establish its embassy in Tel Aviv after Cabinet approval last month.

Dubai-Israel trade has already reached Dh1 billion ($272.3 million) in the five months between September 2020 to January 2021. Mr Naeh said about 130,000 Israeli tourists visited the UAE since the normalisation agreement was signed.

"We’re very curious people. We like to travel. Israelis are traveling all over the world."

Mr Naeh estimated 50,000 Israelis to visit the UAE every month during winter. Once vaccination against Covid-19 is complete in both countries, he expects tourist traffic to increase rapidly. "I know that UAE tourism companies already making enquiries about packages in Israel. Israel has got many climate zones, forests and mountains and water bodies, which will attract visitors from the UAE."

Turning to co-operation in infrastructure, investments and technology, Mr Naeh said the two countries could learn from each other.

Israel has identified about 29 potential areas for co-operation with the UAE and agreements have already been signed in eight of them, he said.

"I think there is a lot of room for mutual investments. More Israeli companies will open their front offices here in the UAE or set up factories," he said.

Co-operation in dealing with life in arid climates could also be on the cards, with Israel keen to share some expertise.

"No one country knows everything. Israel is in the semi-arid climate, so we do have a very advanced desert research centres down in the south," he said. "There are things that we already know and there are things that we can study, then research and develop together."

Mr Naeh believes dialogue between Israel and the UAE will encourage many others to follow suit to settle their differences.

"We are very ancient people. We carry with us a long history. We carry that bag on our back, but we’re certainly the kind of people like yourselves [Emiratis] who look very much into the future," he said.