Emirati-Israeli friendships bloom in first year of Abraham Accords

Dubai - While some Emiratis started attending Shabbat dinners, Israelis got to experience Iftar.

For many Emiratis and Israelis, the past year has been a ‘life-changing’ journey.

Wednesday marked the one-year anniversary of the signing of the landmark Abraham Accords. And since this milestone event happened, bilateral trade and cultural exchange flourished.

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Emirati Dr Majid Al Sarrah, who had visited Israel in December, said he made plenty of friends.

“If we were to highlight the significant events, I would say we started an organisation called Sharaka with our Israeli friends,” Al Sarrah told Khaleej Times.

“We have achieved a lot. Since the beginning of the Abraham Accords, we did several events, with lots of gatherings between Jews, Arabs and even non-Jews."

Learning about a new culture has been a game-changer, Al Sarrah said.

A lot of his newfound Israeli friends have also visited Dubai. “We have taken them to places to see what the UAE is like, how the culture is. And now, in the shopping malls and the streets, you will definitely keep hearing the Hebrew language, which was really uncommon back in the day,” Al Sarrah added.

Ariella Steinreich, senior vice-president of Steinreich Communications, said that during this past year, the communities have come together for occasions like Lag B’Omer and Iftar.

“As someone who has been working in the region — specifically in the UAE — for the past decade, it is very exciting to see the impact this past year has had both on the business and social spheres. I have had the chance to introduce many of my Emirati and Israeli friends and business associates,” said Steinreich.

The Abraham Accords have provided unprecedented business opportunities for all countries involved, she added.

james@khaleejtimes.com