For the first time ever, representatives of Israeli tech companies attended the GITEX conference in the United Arab Emirates.
GITEX is an annual computer and electronics trade show held in Dubai.
Israel’s participation follows a surge in business with the UAE, following agreement to normalize relations in August, followed soon thereafter by Bahrain and Sudan. The decision by the Arab countries to forge ties with Jerusalem broke with decades of Middle East policy, angering Palestinians and some Muslim states.
UAE and Israeli officials have hailed significant economic opportunities springing forth from the United States-brokered Abraham Accords, including the open importing of Israeli goods to the Gulf state.
“I think the common challenge for both our economies [is to] create new opportunities and there is so much that can be done and it incentivizes us to do more in order to collaborate, in order to find solutions together, in order to build, bring prosperity to our economies because we are all affected by the economic impact of the pandemic, so this is a time for collaboration,” said Israeli Ministry of Economy and Industry official Yael Ravia-Zadok, as a banner reading “Foreign Trade Administration. Israel” was boldly displayed on a booth displaying products from the Jewish State.
The CEO and Chairman of the UAE “DP World” Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation also spoke of increased cooperation between the two countries. The company operates the Middle East’s largest trans-shipment port in Dubai with European activities, including ports in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. “The port facilities (in Israel) will allow us to link our ports in Europe to the Middle East,” Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem told conference participants in Dubai.
Sulayem added that, “As we see more and more, the infrastructure in Israel, the port facilities will allow us to link our ports in Europe to the Middle East. This is in line with our new strategy of end-to-end solutions of trade enabling and logistics.”
Another sign prominently placed at the exhibitions read, “Nothing Stops People & Tech Bring on GITEX GLOBAL 2021.”
CEO and Founder of the Israeli company Talamoos, Rubi Bolm, said he was “very excited” to be in Dubai, adding that, “It’s been a long time that we in Israel were waiting, waiting for this peace to come. And we’re very happy and personally, I feel very blessed to be here in this amazing country.”
Tech companies also showcased their products at the UAE-Israel future digital economy summit, being held on the sidelines of the GITEX conference.