The United Arab Emirates will allow Israelis to enter its territory during the 2020 World Expo, an Israeli newspaper reported on Monday.
"As the official host of next year's World Expo, the Gulf state is expected to open its doors to Israeli tourists in 2020," the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth said on Wednesday.
"The Expo 2020 will hold a pavilion in which Israel will present its latest achievements in innovation," the newspaper said.
It quoted an unnamed source in the Expo management team that "the Israeli and UAE authorities have been in talks for some time, to allow those who hold Israeli passports to attend the exhibition in Dubai."
The source added that "these talks are ongoing because both sides want to see the exhibition turn into the largest exhibition in the world, the UAE has invested huge amounts of money and thought about the event, and wants to welcome the Israelis as well."
Mohammed Khater, assistant director of tourism in Ras Al Khaimah, was quoted as saying: "I think the Israelis will come to visit even after the exhibition.
Although Israel and the UAE do not have formal diplomatic relations, the two countries have economic ties and Israelis are allowed to enter the country if they hold a non-Israeli foreign passport or use a special visa.
She said the UAE officially recognized its small Jewish community last year as part of Dubai's population.
The newspaper quoted a US source linked to the UAE authorities as saying that the state is expected to make it much easier for those with Israeli passports to enter.
The United Arab Emirates has not formally commented on the report.
In March, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash called for accelerating normalization between Arab states and Israel.
The reports come amid signs of diplomatic contacts and sports normalization between some Arab countries - including the UAE - and Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly spoken of an unprecedented development in relations with many Arab countries.
The international exhibition, designed to showcase the achievements of nations, is held every five years, lasts for up to six months and attracts millions of visitors from all over the world and will be launched in Dubai in October 2020.