Israel’s President Isaac Herzog Leaves for Historic Official Visit to UAE

Israel’s President Isaac Herzog left on Sunday for what is being billed as a historic visit to the United Arab Emirates for a presidential visit. Herzog and his wife, Michal, are visiting the UAE at the invitation of the Emirates’ de facto ruler and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Herzog is scheduled to visit Abu Dhabi and Dubai, where he will hold official meetings with  the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan; UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan; Vice President, Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum; Commissioner-General of Expo 2020 Dubai and UAE Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan; and representatives of the business sector and Jewish community.  Herzog will open Israel’s national day at Dubai Expo 2020 on Monday.

“I am bringing with me a blessing of peace and a message of peace to the entire region, to the peoples of the region. Peace brings with it prosperity, progress, and growth for the benefit of the peoples of the region. I will be meeting the leadership of the United Arab Emirates, at the personal invitation of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, the Crown Prince, and I wish him well and I am grateful for his courage and bold leadership, carving out a peace agreement with Israel and sending a message to the entire region that peace is the only alternative for the peoples of the region. Thank you very much. Shalom. As-Salaamu-Alaikum,” Herzog said Sunday morning as he boarded a plane for the UAE.

Israel and the UAE signed the Abraham Accords in September 2020, which officially normalized relations for the first time.