Hi-tech Israeli delegation in UAE for talks

Dubai - The four-day visit of the delegation comes 40 days after the UAE and Israel signed the historic peace agreement.

The first Israeli high-tech delegation will begin its first round of discussions today with senior government officials and investment counterparts in Dubai and Abu Dhabi on building collaborations and exploring investment opportunities.

The four-day visit of the delegation comes 40 days after the UAE and Israel signed the historic peace agreement, the Abraham Accord, on September 15 in Washington.

The delegation, invited by the Dubai International Financial Centre, arrived in Dubai last night. It is being led by Jerusalem Venture Partners (JVP) founder and Chairman Dr Erel Margalit and included 13 CEOs of leading Israeli technology companies in fields like cybersecurity, fintech, insurance tech, and food tech.

This is the second high-level Israeli team to visit the UAE in less than two months after a US-Israeli team led by Jared Kushner, Senior Adviser to President Donald Trump, arrived in Abu Dhabi on August 31 to discuss bilateral cooperation in key areas, such as investment, finance, health, civil space programmes, civil aviation, foreign policy and diplomatic affairs, tourism and culture.

“Hi-tech is the locomotive engine that leads the Israeli economy, so we have a key role in leading relations and cooperation with the Emirates, with an emphasis on partnership,” said Margalit, who is also chairman of Margalit Startup City Erel.

“I am proud to lead the first Israeli hi-tech delegation to the Emirates. Our companies have been in business contact with the Emirates for a number of years, and now an opportunity has arisen to expand this network of relationships, deepen the ties significantly, and allow more and more Israeli companies and entrepreneurs to be part of this connection and success,” Margalit said.

He said the delegation’s visit is not just a business opportunity, but a political opportunity for turning a new page between the Israeli hi-tech community and the entire Middle East. “With us in the delegation are the CEOs of emerging Israeli hi-tech companies from every field, and I am sure we will create real partnerships here that will contribute to building successful Israeli companies that will propel the Israeli economy forward, precisely during this period, and create more and more new jobs.”