Israeli and Emirati Foreign Ministers Meet in Abu Dhabi Amid Regional Tensions

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar met with his Emirati counterpart, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, marking their second diplomatic encounter in just three months. The meeting underscored ongoing efforts by Israel and the United Arab Emirates to maintain and deepen ties amid a turbulent regional backdrop.

The visit reflects a steady pace of engagement between the two Abraham Accords nations. Sa’ar and Al Nahyan last met publicly on January 7, in what was the first senior-level Israeli diplomatic trip to the UAE since the outbreak of the war in Gaza in October 2023.

Following the latest meeting, Sa’ar shared a message of hope and cooperation on social media: “Honored to meet in Abu Dhabi, for the second time, with UAE FM Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed. We discussed the full range of regional issues, as well as furthering bilateral relations between our countries. There are major challenges ahead of us in the Middle East, but there are partners for a better future of cooperation and stability.”

As tensions persist across the region, including in Gaza, Lebanon, and Yemen, the UAE continues to position itself as a key player in fostering regional dialogue and pragmatic diplomacy. For Israel, these relationships are critical for countering isolation and expanding normalization efforts with Arab and Muslim-majority countries.

In a related milestone, a delegation of municipal leaders from Judea and Samaria (the West Bank), organized by the Yesha Council, made a historic visit to the UAE on March 22. It marked the council’s first official engagement in a Muslim-majority country. The Israeli leaders met with Emirati officials, business executives, and policy influencers to explore joint initiatives in economic development and strategic planning.

The meeting between the foreign ministers and the broader outreach by Israeli delegations affirm the durability of the Abraham Accords and signal a shared desire to advance regional cooperation even in the face of geopolitical instability.

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