A full bilateral treaty with a ratification clause. Its title uses the word "peace", but the two states never fought each other and share no border, so the site classifies it as a normalization agreement.
As of October 2026 the treaty is in force, the embassies are working and trade is growing1516. In May 2026 US ambassadors confirmed that Israel had sent Iron Dome batteries and crews to the UAE during the war with Iran9.
In one sentence
To turn quiet contacts between Israel and a Gulf state into full, public relations: embassies, flights, trade and cooperation.
The challenge
Israel and the UAE share no border and never fought each other1. What stood between them was the common Arab position that relations with Israel would come only after a settlement with the Palestinians, as set out in the Arab Peace Initiative.
In the summer of 2020 Israel's government was considering applying sovereignty to parts of the West Bank under the Trump plan. The UAE offered a deal: full relations, and Israel suspends that move2.
The road there
Joint statement by Trump, Netanyahu and Mohamed bin Zayed: full normalization, and suspension of the declaration of sovereignty2.
Peace, diplomatic relations and full normalization between the two states, and an exchange of ambassadors3.
Mutual respect for sovereignty and peaceful settlement of disputes3.
Each side will prevent terrorist and hostile activity against the other from its territory3.
Separate agreements are to be concluded in a range of fields, including investment, aviation, visas, health, science, tourism, energy, water and agriculture3.
Promotion of coexistence, people-to-people contact and interfaith dialogue3.
The Palestinians: the preamble speaks in general terms of a just, comprehensive, realistic and enduring solution to the conflict. The treaty has no clause on sovereignty or annexation3.
The treaty requires ratification, enters into force on the exchange of instruments of ratification and is registered with the UN3.
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Layers · Legend
Peace treaty in force
Normalization (Abraham Accords)
Announced, not concluded
Interim agreements, no permanent settlement
Ceasefires and talks, no peace treaty
No relations; Arab Peace Initiative on the table
Classification follows the original research as of 7 Oct 2026. This schematic map is not a legal boundary map or a live update.
Israel
Peace treaty in force
Normalization (Abraham Accords)
Announced, not concluded
Interim agreements, no permanent settlement
Ceasefires and talks, no peace treaty
No relations; Arab Peace Initiative on the table
Schematic map. Lines are approximate and are not a legal determination. Data: Natural Earth (public domain), 1:10m scale; line classification and place names by this site. Lines as of October 2026. Peace map
The hard decisions
Israel suspended the declaration of sovereignty. The word chosen was "suspend", not "cancel", and the commitment is in the statement of 13 August, not in the treaty23.
The UAE departed from the order set by the Arab Peace Initiative. The Palestinian Authority recalled its ambassador from Abu Dhabi and said it had not known of the move in advance10.
In the Knesset 13 members voted against, all of them from the Joint List4.
At the same time the US administration advanced an arms deal worth more than 23 billion dollars for the UAE, including up to 50 F-35 jets. Netanyahu told the Knesset that the agreement had no secret annexes411.
Where accounts differ
According to The Palestinian leadership
The agreement cut normalization loose from ending the occupation and gave Israel a gain with nothing in return for the Palestinians10.
According to The United Arab Emirates
The agreement stopped annexation, and was meant to support the Palestinian aspiration to a state alongside regional cooperation8.
According to Critics in Israel, as reported from the Knesset debate
Israel tacitly agreed to the sale of advanced weapons to the UAE as part of the deal. Netanyahu denied this and said the agreement had no secret annex4.
What was carried out
Embassies opened in Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv in 202156.
A free-trade agreement (CEPA) has been in force since 1 April 2023; it removes or reduces tariffs on more than 96% of product lines7.
Non-oil trade was 1.3 billion dollars in 2021 and 2.49 billion in 2022, according to official Emirati figures7. In 2025 trade reached 3.209 billion dollars, according to Israel Central Bureau of Statistics data as relayed by the Heritage Foundation12. The figures may have been measured in different ways.
What was not
The F-35 deal was not completed: the Biden administration paused it for review in January 202111, and in December 2021 the UAE announced that it was suspending talks on it13.
What changed in real life
In 2025 there were 1,119,786 passengers from Israel to Dubai and 406,157 to Abu Dhabi, according to the Heritage Foundation's annual report12.
In the other direction the traffic is very small: about 700 visitors from the UAE entered Israel in 2025, according to the same report12. The Middle East Institute estimates about 1,600 Emirati visitors since normalization14.
What remains open
Annexation: on 3 September 2025 Lana Nusseibeh, envoy of the UAE foreign minister, said that annexation in the West Bank would be a red line and would end the pursuit of regional integration8.
After 7 October 2023 the relations held, but hardly any new public agreements were signed, according to the Middle East Institute14.
The tie between the two societies has stayed one-sided: many Israelis travel to the UAE, and very few come from there12.
Photos, videos and quotes
I stand here today to extend a hand of peace and receive a hand of peace.
Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan · Abraham Accords signing ceremony, South Lawn of the White House, 15 September 2020 The minister spoke in Arabic. The official White House transcript marks his remarks "(As interpreted.)" – this is the interpreter's English, not an official UAE translation. The Arabic shown here is the site's translation from the English, not his original words. Quote source: The White House (Trump White House archive, US National Archives)
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