Although the Israeli-Emirati alliance carries security and strategic dimensions in its essence, Tel Aviv is racing against time to exploit the economic and commercial potential behind the normalization of relations between the two countries, by signing an aviation agreement between Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi with ceremonial decrees hosted today, Tuesday, by Ben Gurion Airport, with the participation of the Prime Minister The Israeli Binyamin Netanyahu and a high-ranking Emirati delegation.

The agreements between Israel and the UAE are based on what the two countries describe as considerations of national security, under the pretext of a common Iranian threat.

At the same time, these agreements have economic potential in a wide range of areas, including: trade, aviation, tourism, security, transportation, communications, technology, energy, finance, health, and tackling climate change.

In addition to the bilateral benefits, the agreements concluded between Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi expand - in accordance with Israeli aspirations - the possibility of strengthening economic relations between Israel and other Arab countries, with which they do not have formal relations yet, especially in the field of transportation, transportation and aviation.

Netanyahu and Transportation Minister Regev in Haifa Port while receiving the first commercial shipment from the UAE (Israeli Press)

Flying first

According to the aviation agreement reached between the Israeli Ministry of Transportation and its Emirati counterpart, 28 weekly flights will operate from Ben Gurion Airport in Lod to Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports, provided that the agreement will enter into force within weeks.

The aviation agreement between Israel and the UAE - which includes exemptions from visas between the two sides - comes on the heels of the signing of the "Abraham Agreement" sponsored by the United States at the White House last September, as the agreement will allow tourism, trade and free business between the two countries, and exemption from visas.

Thus, the UAE will be the first Arab country to allow Israelis to enter its territory without a visa.

The agreement allows - in addition to organizing 28 weekly flights between the two countries - unlimited charter flights between the Emirates and Ramon Airport near Eilat and the Jordanian border.

In addition, 10 weekly cargo flights between the two countries will be allowed.

Decisive step

However, before the start of the flights, there is a critical step in determining the airlines' frequencies;

As the Israeli airline "Israir" - which will operate a daily flight to the Emirates - stated that it had booked a place on the flight schedule and airlines, in preparation for the start of flight traffic, while the El Al airline did not reveal its plans regarding the number of new routes and flights to the Emirates. Note that it has submitted an official request to operate cargo flights to Abu Dhabi.

According to the estimates of the specialists in the Israeli Civil Aviation Authority, there is great commercial interest by the Israeli and Emirati airlines, and it is estimated that the cost of the airline ticket will start from 300 dollars and may reach 700 dollars, provided that the flight takes 3 hours, especially after Saudi Arabia allowed For Israeli aviation to pass through its airspace.

Many transit flights will be operated from airports in Israel and the UAE to all destinations around the world, especially the Far East, Asia, Europe and the American continent, noting that such trips to the UAE company Al-Ittihad and traveling on them for the Israelis were to fly from Ben Gurion Airport to airports in Turkey or Jordan or Greece.

A site in Hebrew

In preparation for this, the UAE-based Etihad Company launched a few days ago a website in the Hebrew language on the occasion of the signing of the aviation agreement between the two countries, and the site was launched for the convenience of Israeli travelers who choose to travel with the company to Abu Dhabi and to many of the company's future destinations in the Far East, Europe and America, according to the newspaper. .

In addition, the Israeli Minister of Transportation, Miri Regev, described the aviation agreement between Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi "historic", noting that the agreement paves the way for an economic recovery, as well as opening more markets, and opening the sky and the skies to new and exciting destinations.

Without disclosing more about the destination, but she said that opening the skies and flying to Abu Dhabi paves the way for the establishment of airlines from Israel to other Gulf countries.

Yesterday, Monday, the first Emirati commercial plane landed at Ben Gurion Airport with 58 passengers on board, including officials from the Emirates Airlines, businessmen and several journalists, as the Etihad team launched the first flights by disembarking from the stairs and waving Israeli flags.

About two hours after the Emirati delegation arrived at Ben Gurion Airport, an Israeli delegation led by logistic services company "Maman Group" left for Abu Dhabi airport, on the first flight of an Emirati airline on its way from Israel to the emirate.

An Emirati cargo ship anchors at Haifa Port (Israeli Press)

Encouraging investments

Days preceded that, Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi signed a joint agreement to encourage investments between the two countries, and it grants incentives to investors and provides them with protection and tax exemption, guaranteeing their money and the value of their investments in the event of any developments and political changes, with the aim of strengthening trade relations, developing cooperation and economic exchange, encouraging competition and attracting investments between the two countries. .

Commenting on the signing of the joint trade agreement, Israeli Finance Minister Yisrael Katz said, "The fact that this important economic agreement is among the first agreements to be concluded symbolizes the strength of economic relations and the strategic importance of relations between Israel, the UAE and the countries of the region."

The Israeli minister added, "This is part of a broad policy that we follow in the Ministry of Finance and the government to enhance international economic cooperation. This agreement with the UAE will be a cornerstone for institutionalizing economic relations between the two countries, with a focus on increasing investment and cooperation in the private sector."