The economic and low-cost "flydubai" company will operate the first regular direct flights between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel as of November 26.
The Dubai-based Emirati airline announced this decision today, Wednesday, on its official website.
The company said that it would operate two flights per day between the Emirate of Dubai and Tel Aviv, the capital city of Israel, a few weeks after the signing of a historic agreement to normalize relations between both countries.
The UAE and Israel are looking forward to quickly bear the fruits of the agreement in the tourism, technology, and trade sectors, especially since the two countries are experiencing economic difficulties against the backdrop of closures related to the novel coronavirus.
"The start of regular flights will contribute to economic development and create more opportunities for investment and achieving our interests," Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO of the state-owned flydubai, said in a statement issued hours before.
"With the start of services, there will be an option to increase access to the United Arab Emirates, as well as to the Indian Ocean, the Far East, and Africa, which reduces the total flight times by several hours," he said.
On October 20, both Israel and the UAE agreed to exempt their citizens from travel visas, making the UAE the first Arab country to exclude its citizens from this procedure to enter the Hebrew state.
This came during a visit paid by the first official Emirati delegation to Tel Aviv, about a week ago after the signing of an agreement to establish relations at the White House under the patronage and presence of US President Donald Trump.
The UAE is the first Gulf state and the third Arab country to sign an agreement to normalize relations with the Hebrew state, while Bahrain is the fourth, after Jordan (1994) and Egypt (1979).
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