Prosperity, tolerance, and thriving Jewish life in UAE

October marked the second anniversary of the Abraham Accords, which established diplomatic relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. To celebrate this milestone, JUF President Lonnie Nasatir, 2023 JUF Annual Campaign Chair Carey Cooper, JCRC Chair Wendy Berger, and a group of 40 top JUF lay leaders and volunteers traveled on a mission to the UAE and Israel, visiting both Jewish and non-Jewish leaders in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Jewish Chicago spoke with Nasatir about the group’s historic trip.

Q. What impact of the Abraham Accords did you see on the ground in the UAE?

A. It’s clear that normalization of relations with Israel has fostered prosperity across the country. When we met with Israeli Ambassador to the UAE Amir Hayek, he explained that Emirati leaders are working to broaden the national portfolio by investing in Israeli technology-and we saw the incredible economic impact this investment is having on society. The Emirati people are benefiting from new technologies in solar energy, agriculture, water, and medicine.

elations with Israel also have been a real boon for tourism, which is one of the UAE’s chief industries. It’s become the hot new destination for Israeli travelers-nearly half a million Israelis have visited the UAE in the last two years.

Trade between Israel and the UAE is just exploding: It’s expected to reach $3 billion by the end of this calendar year, which will be a defining moment for both countries. The other countries in the region see this dramatic success and it’s a strong incentive for them to look at normalizing relations with Israel.

Did you see any other indicators of progress?

We also saw heightened acceptance of other faiths. The ethos of the UAE is to be open, tolerant, and respectful of all religions, and the Abraham Accords intensified that.

We met with the Minister of Tolerance, His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, and he was passionate about the nation’s desire to be welcoming to all faiths.

One of the ways they are demonstrating this is through the establishment of The Abrahamic Family House. It’s a huge cultural landmark in Abu Dhabi, slated to open later this year, that will house a synagogue, a church, and a mosque in a single complex.

How has Jewish life in the UAE grown in the last two years?

Since the signing of the Abraham Accords, the number of Jews living in the Emirates has reportedly risen five-fold, to about 10,000. We met with Rabbi Levi Duchman, a Chabad emissary who became the first resident rabbi here when he moved to the UAE in 2015, and he shared the ways in which Jewish life has just exploded.

There now are Jewish community centers in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai. There are synagogues and kosher restaurants. This year, 1,600 people attended the Passover Seders he organized, and the community built a sukkah in front of the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building. Now he is working on building a Jewish school.

Even Rabbi Duchman’s wedding this last September was historic, with a culturally diverse guest list that included many prominent members of the Emirati community. A video of Jews and Muslims joyously dancing together at this huge Hasidic wedding went viral, and the symbolism was powerful.

What are the regional implications of all of this?

Two years after the signing of the Abraham Accords, there are major trade agreements between Israel and the UAE, major mutual investments in each other’s economies, and a better understanding of each other’s cultures. Beyond heightened prosperity and coexistence, there is a pragmatic existential component to this new normal in assembling regional allies: A bloc of Gulf States would help to combat threats of Iranian hegemony.

Is there a moment from the trip that encapsulates how meaningful it was?

The Minister of Tolerance hosted us for dinner at his home on Saturday night, and he invited 20 of his friends to join us. It was deeply moving to be greeted by a line of people wearing traditional attire, each of whom made it a point to shake hands with all 45 of us. The last gentleman smiled at me and said: “Shavua Tov.” I’ll never forget it.

Linda Haase is JUF’s Senior Associate Vice President of Marketing Communications.