Israel to Open Embassy in Abu Dhabi Early January

Israel set the date for the opening of its embassy in the UAE, following the recent normalization of ties deal reached between both countries.

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Israel will open its embassy and consulate in the UAE by the first week of January 2021, according to the "Khaleej Times" website.

“We are hoping to have the inauguration (of the embassy) by the end of December or the first week of January 2021. We will have the embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General will be in Dubai,” a ministry spokesperson told Khaleej Times.

He explained that the embassy and consulate would be "big" due to the importance of the historical relationship between Tel Aviv and UAE, saying: "I cannot tell you that the missions will be one of the largest in the world. But I can say that our embassy and consulate in the UAE will be really big."

Media reports from Israel, quoting diplomatic sources, said that the embassy “may even be as large as the missions in Washington, London and Moscow”.

The Israeli government spokesman said that a ministerial delegation visited the UAE last week to search for a suitable location to establish the embassy.