Israel Confirms Participation in Dubai’s Expo 2020

An Israeli delegation will be allowed to take part in the Expo 2020 world fair in Dubai, further evidence of stronger ties between the Jewish state and Sunni Gulf nations due to shared concerns over Shi’ite Iran’s regional interventionism and potential nuclearization. According to reports, the director-general of Israel’s Foreign Ministry traveled to Dubai this week to finalize the Expo 2020 agreement. Foreign Minister Israel Katz said in a statement: “[Our] participation in the exhibition reflects the rise in Israel’s status, not only internationally but also among the key state actors in our region.” While Israel has no formal diplomatic ties with the United Arab Emirates, senior Israeli ministers have over the past two years made public visits to the country. A recent survey found that 42 percent of Emiratis are interested in establishing relations with Israel. Expo 2020 will run from October of next year through to April 2021 and is expected to attract 25 million tourists.