Statements by a senior Israeli official have revealed a growing level of cooperation between Israel and the United Arab Emirates following the recent war with Iran, amid indications that relations between Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi are entering a deeper phase involving strategic projects and expanded security and military cooperation.
An Israeli official based in the Gulf region said the recent conflict had contributed to strengthening ties between the two sides, arguing that regional developments have created new opportunities to expand cooperation after years of relations established through the normalisation agreements.
Speaking to Agence France-Presse, the official said Israel and the UAE are entering a new stage of partnership. He noted that future cooperation would not remain limited to security matters but would extend to transport, trade, investment, and major regional development projects.
The official revealed that two Israeli delegations are preparing to visit Abu Dhabi next week in the first publicly announced official engagements since the recent escalation with Iran. One of the delegations will include officials from Israel’s Ministry of Transport.
The delegation is expected to discuss the proposed trade corridor linking India, the Middle East, and Europe, as part of broader plans to strengthen economic connectivity between Israel and countries across the region through new commercial routes.
The Israeli official said the missile and drone attacks witnessed across the region in recent months had pushed the UAE towards closer alignment with Israel regarding Iran. According to his remarks, both sides increasingly view regional threats through a shared strategic lens.
“This is an opportunity to strengthen our relations,” he said. “We believe in the enormous potential for cooperation and in the importance of this market.”
Growing Security and Military Coordination
On the military front, the official declined to confirm or deny reports claiming that Israel had sent batteries from its Iron Dome air defence system, along with operating personnel, to the UAE to assist in countering attacks.
He also refused to comment on a report published by The Wall Street Journal alleging that the UAE had carried out strikes against Iran in coordination with Israel and the United States during the period of escalation.
Nevertheless, the official stressed that Israel stood alongside the UAE throughout the crisis, saying that what he described as “mutual support” had strengthened security and political trust between the two countries.
He praised what he called the UAE’s position in confronting Iranian threats, claiming that Abu Dhabi had shown “great courage” by supporting a broader effort to address issues related to Iran’s missile programme and Tehran’s regional influence.
The official argued that deeper relations between Israel and the UAE would reinforce the normalisation agreements signed in 2020 and expressed hope that these ties would evolve into wider regional partnerships.
Israeli Media Highlights Expanding Alliance
In a related development, the Israeli outlet Israel 365 News described the growing relationship between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv as a historic shift reflecting the depth of a partnership that has been developing over recent years.
In an article by writer Eli Michel, the publication argued that Israel’s deployment of soldiers and advanced defensive technologies to protect an Arab state demonstrated what the normalisation agreements had been quietly building for years.
The article claimed that military cooperation during the recent confrontation showed the relationship moving beyond political coordination and into direct operational partnership.
According to the report, Israeli defence systems participated in intercepting attacks targeting the UAE, alongside intelligence and technical cooperation between the two sides.
The report also referred to the deployment of advanced defence technologies, including interception and surveillance systems, describing the move as more than a political message and instead as a field-level deployment reflecting a new level of cooperation.
An Israeli official quoted in the report said the war had produced an “unprecedented level of rapprochement” due to what he described as a shared threat.
“Both countries were attacked, and the enemy is the same,” the official said. “This will certainly be reflected in the expansion of relations going forward.”
Criticism of Deepening Ties
The disclosure of the extent of security and military cooperation between the UAE and Israel has triggered criticism from opponents of normalisation, who argue that these developments reveal a shift from diplomatic and economic engagement towards a direct security alliance.
Critics contend that the growing military coordination demonstrates a new phase in relations between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv, one that extends beyond political cooperation and trade into deeper strategic and security integration.
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