Visa Waiver, Direct Flights to Fuel UAE-Israel Trade

The U.A.E. and Israeli governments have concluded a visa waiver program even as three airlines from Israel and two from the U.A.E. have announce direct flights between Tel Aviv and Dubai/Abu Dhabi.

Israelis will be able to fly to Dubai without a visa from December 1, even though the agreement does not officially take effect until later in the month, reports Globes.

El AL Israel Airlines Ltd., Israir Airlines and Tourism ltd. And Arkia Airlines Ltd. will operate daily Tel Aviv-Dubai flights starting next month.

EL AL Airlines said it will operate 14 weekly flights between Tel Aviv and Dubai from December 13. There will be three flights on Sundays and Thursdays and two flights on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The airline will use its Boeing 737-900 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner planes.

U.A.E.’s FlyDubai will be the first to fly the route with daily flights due to begin on Thursday, November 26. Etihad Airways will join the club in March 2021 while Emirates is yet to announce details.

The development comes three months after the two countries signed a normalization deal brokered by the United States. U.A.E. and Israel, along with Bahrain, agreed to establish full diplomatic, cultural and commercial relations on September 15.

Earlier this month, an airplane, FlyDubai Flight No. FZ8194, carrying Israeli passengers landed in the U.A.E for the first time ever.