Israel–United Arab Emirates normalization agreement — 2020 agreement between Israel and the UAE
The UAE became the third Arab country and first Persian Gulf state to formally normalize relations with Israel, reshaping Middle East diplomacy.
Key Facts
- Initial announcement
- August 13, 2020 (joint statement)
- Signing date
- September 15, 2020 at the White House
- Agreement in effect
- January 5, 2021
- Arab countries before UAE
- Egypt (1979) and Jordan (1994)
- First direct Israel–UAE flight
- August 31, 2020
- Israeli Knesset ratification
- October 15, 2020
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Israel and the UAE had maintained long-standing informal but substantial relations, while Israel's plans to annex parts of the West Bank created diplomatic pressure. The United States brokered negotiations that offered the UAE a path to formal ties, and Israel agreed to suspend annexation plans as part of the arrangement.
On August 13, 2020, the United States, Israel, and the UAE jointly announced the Abraham Accords. The formal agreement was signed at the White House on September 15, 2020, establishing peace, diplomatic relations, and full normalization. Both countries' legislative and executive bodies ratified the accord in October 2020.
The UAE became the third Arab state and first Gulf country to normalize relations with Israel. Practical steps followed rapidly: direct telephone dialing was unblocked on August 16, the first direct commercial flight operated on August 31, and cargo shipping between the two countries commenced by mid-October 2020.