U.A.E. Bars Israeli Defense Firms from Dubai Airshow after Qatar Strike

The United Arab Emirates has banned Israeli defense companies from participating in the Dubai Airshow scheduled for November, Israel’s Defense Ministry has confirmed.

Organizers of the event, one of the world’s largest aerospace and defense exhibitions, notified Israeli officials and company executives that they would not be invited. The official explanation cited “security concerns,” but the move is widely viewed as retaliation for Israel’s strike in Doha earlier this week targeting senior Hamas leadership.

The strike drew condemnation across the world, with countries issuing statements of solidarity with Qatar. Israel’s Defense Ministry declined to comment on whether the U.A.E. decision was linked.

Relations between Israel and the U.A.E. have been under strain in recent months. In June, U.A.E. officials warned Israel that comments by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on annexing 82% of West Bank territories would cross a “red line.”

At the 2023 edition of the Dubai show, Israeli defense company booths stood empty after the Gaza conflict broke out.

Israeli defense firms first showcased their products at the Dubai event in 2021 after the signing of the U.S.-mediated Abraham Accords. The 2020 agreements normalized ties between Israel and several Arab nations, including the U.A.E., and were aimed at promoting cooperation.