Lapid arrives in UAE on first official visit by an Israeli minister

AFP 2021/06/29 10:45

Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid landed in UAE for a landmark state visit, the first by an Israeli foreign minister, on June 29, 2021. (Photo: Yair Lapid/Twitter)

Israel's top diplomat Yair Lapid arrived in the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday for the first ever official visit by an Israeli minister, after the two nations normalized ties in September.

Lapid landed at Abu Dhabi airport after earlier tweeting a picture of himself from inside a plane, with the caption: "Taking off for a historic visit to the UAE."

Israeli ministers have previously visited the United Arab Emirates, but newly appointed Lapid is the most senior Israeli to make the trip, and the first to travel on an official mission.

Since the normalisation accord with the UAE was was announced in August 2020, Israel has signed a raft of deals with the UAE, ranging from tourism to aviation and financial services.

The trip comes nearly a year after the nations moved to normalise ties, and after months of planned visits by Israeli officials were stymied by issues including the Covid pandemic and diplomatic scuffles.

During his visit, Lapid will inaugurate the Israeli embassy in Abu Dhabi, as well as the consulate general of Israel in Dubai.

"The Israeli delegation will land late morning at Abu Dhabi, and will be received by the minister of economic affairs at the foreign ministry," Israel's foreign ministry said in a statement.