Israel looking into road links with UAE: Israeli envoy

After successfully establishing air and sea links, Israel is looking into the potential of road traffic with the UAE to further develop the bilateral trade corridor.

That's according to the Head of Mission at the newly opened Israeli Embassy in Abu Dhabi, who spoke to national news agency WAM.

Eitan Naeh said his country is looking into the potential of trailers and lorries carrying goods from the UAE and reaching Israel in three days, and vice versa.

He pointed out that the air and sea links between the two countries have already enabled the flow of goods on flights within a few hours and on ships within 16 days.

130,000 Israelis visit UAE

The envoy revealed that around 130,000 Israeli tourists visited the UAE since the air traffic was launched in the wake of the Abraham Accords, which was signed in September 2020.

He also quoted tourism industry sources saying that nearly 50,000 Israelis a month may visit the UAE during the winter season.

Once the vaccination against COVID-19 is complete in both countries, he expects increased tourist traffic. "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."

Infrastructure, investments and technologies

The envoy pointed out that both countries have an advanced infrastructure. "We can learn from each other."

Israel has identified around 29 potential areas for cooperation with the UAE and bilateral agreements in eight areas have already been signed, he said.

On investment front, the Israeli Head of Mission already had talks with some investment companies from Israel that want to come and invest in the UAE.

"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.

In science and technology sector, setting up joint research and development centres where each country can bring its expertise and advantage, is a potential priority.

"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 noted. "There are things that we already know and there are things that we can study, then research and develop together."

Corridor linking East and West

"I truly believe that the UAE on the eastern part of Arabia and Israel on the western part of Asia - on the Mediterranean - can create a trade corridor through land and sea [to the rest of the world]," he added. "This ‘corridor of peace’ will create great possibilities for trade and tourism."