The Israeli National Security Council (NSC) has issued a travel warning for Israeli citizens visiting or staying in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), citing a heightened risk of “terrorist organisations” carrying out attacks in the Gulf state. The warning comes amid growing tensions in the region and increased motivation for revenge attacks following Israel’s recent military campaigns against Iran and in Gaza.
The NSC statement, published on Thursday, cited a growing threat from “terrorist organisations” including Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, and Global Jihad, motivated by Israel’s military operations in the Middle East.
“They are driven by heightened motivation to exact revenge following Operation Rising Lion, in addition to the anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian incitement which has intensified since the start of Operation Iron Swords, and even more so in response to Hamas’ starvation campaign,” the statement said.
The warning is based on past experience, which has shown that “terrorist organisations often focus their efforts in neighbouring countries”. The NSC is reiterating the possibility that they will try to carry out attacks against Israeli and Jewish targets in the UAE, especially on Jewish holidays and Shabbat.
The NSC’s travel alert for the UAE remains unchanged at level 3, strongly advising against non-essential travel and urging Israeli citizens to “seriously reconsider” visiting the Gulf state. While the UAE is viewed as one of the safest places in the Middle East, three people were sentenced to death in March for the murder of an Israeli-Moldovan rabbi.
The Abu Dhabi Federal Appeal Court ruled that the November killing of 28-year-old Zvi Kogan – a representative of Orthodox Jewish organisation Chabad in the UAE – was committed by the defendants in pursuance of a “terrorist purpose”. This incident highlights the potential risks faced by Israeli citizens in the UAE and underscores the need for caution.
The travel warning comes amid growing tensions in the region, with Israel facing mounting international pressure over Gaza’s ongoing starvation crisis caused by the Israeli military’s months-long blockade on aid entering the Palestinian enclave. The situation in Gaza is dire, with many Palestinians struggling to access basic necessities like food and medicine.
In 2020, the UAE became the most prominent Arab state in 30 years to establish formal ties with Israel under a United States-brokered agreement dubbed the Abraham Accords. The country’s Israeli and Jewish community has grown larger and more visible in the years since the accords were signed. However, the recent warning from the NSC highlights the ongoing risks and challenges associated with the relationship between Israel and the UAE.