Hanukkah, the Jewish "festival of lights", a boost for tourism in Dubai
A giant menorah, the Hebrews seven-branched candlestick, is lit in Dubai to celebrate Hanukkah on December 10, 2020. REUTERS - CHRISTOPHER PIKE
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3 min
The Hanukkah festivities, the last holiday on the Jewish calendar, kicked off this Thursday evening and will run for a week.
This year, almost three months after the signing of the Abrahamic Accord between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, many Jewish tourists will celebrate the "Festival of Lights" in Dubai.
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With our correspondent in Dubai,
Nicolas keraudren
Usually, around 20 worshipers gather every morning in this Dubai synagogue.
The crowd was now more important.
Many tourists of the Jewish faith have landed in the emirate this week to celebrate Hanukkah.
"
Today, with many more facilities, we can afford to set up a real tourist program while offering religious services, respecting the Shabbat in its strict rules,"
explains Rabbi Israel Uzan who works for a French tour operator. specializes in so-called kosher holidays.
And customers are also in demand.
It is estimated that there are easily 20 to 30,000 Jews from France who will be coming at the end of the year to spend their holidays here in Dubai.
"
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To listen and read also: The “Abraham Agreements”: a turning point for the Middle East?
The normalization of relations between
Israel and the United Arab Emirates
lifts a taboo.
Since the beginning of the month, the UAE authorities have also issued tourist visas to Israeli nationals.
Michal Khan is one of them.
She is discovering the Emirates for the first time.
“
I'm so thrilled,
” she said.
The Jewish community here even holds a party to celebrate Hanukkah.
We are going to light the candles here in Dubai.
It's a special moment.
When I return to Israel, I will recommend everyone to come here to have this experience of living together
.
"
The development of this tourism in the Emirates is a major boost for the region's most diverse economy.
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See also: Launch of the first direct commercial link between Israel and Dubai
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