The first-known commercial flight between the UAE and Israel has taken place on Tuesday, May 19.
Gulf carrier Etihad made a delivery of 14 tonnes of urgent medical supplies in efforts to curb the spread of Covid-19 pandemic to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport, taking a circuitous route that avoided airspace over Saudi Arabia.
Historically there has never been a direct flight between Israel and the UAE. Israeli aircraft is forbidden to enter UAE airspace and in 2010, the UAE announced it would deny entry to all Israelis, including dual nationals traveling on a non-Israeli passport. Up until now, private or diplomatic missions have had to lay over in a third, neutral country before arriving in Israel.
In 2012, a partnership between Emirates and Qantas led to slightly relaxed restrictions. As Dubai replaced Singapore as the layover hub from passengers travelling between Australia and Europe, Israeli nationals flying from either country were allowed up to 24 hours to change planes in Dubai.
Israeli athletes have competed in sporting tournaments across the UAE, and Israel was confirmed as a participant in the World Expo in Dubai, now expected to take place in 2021.
In a statement to WAM, UAE representatives stressed that the flight was to support healthcare efforts in the occupied Palestinian territory.
“The UAE is an important partner, whose continued support for peace and for the Palestinian people at this critical time is highly valued,” said Nickolay Mladenov, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process. “Global solidarity is in the interest of everyone. Today we are facing the most challenging crisis since the Second World War. We can get through it only by working together.”