The UAE is set to sign the historic Abraham Accord with Israel at a ceremony in Washington on Tuesday, weeks after agreeing to normalise relations in the first such agreement between an Arab country and Israel in over a quarter of a century. As part of the agreement, Israel agreed to the suspension of its plans to annex occupied Palestinian territories.
The UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, arrived in Washington on Sunday night to sign the Abraham Accord to strengthen ties between the Emirates and Israel.
Sheikh Abdullah and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were invited by US President Donald Trump to take part in the signing ceremony at the White House on Tuesday.
The accord sends a powerful signal the UAE has taken back control of its decision-making and assessed its interests in a way that surprised both partners and enemies, Omar Ghobash, UAE Assistant Minister for Cultural Affairs and Public Diplomacy, said in an online forum on the eve of the ceremony.
Mr Ghobash said the UAE had in the past outsourced its relationship with Israel, but this had changed. "We are a state that respects its own sovereignty," he told Mina Al-Oraibi, Editor-in-Chief of The National.
Mr Ghobash is part of a high-level delegation accompanying Sheikh Abdullah for the historic ceremony.
Among them are Abdulla Al Marri, the Minister of Economy; Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology; Obaid Al Tayer, Minister of State for Financial Affairs; and Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Co-operation.
Other notables include Yousef Al Otaiba, UAE ambassador to the US and Minister; Lana Nusseibeh, UAE Permanent Representative to the UN; and Ali Al Neyadi, Commissioner of Customs and Chairman of the Federal Customs Authority.
Bahrain has also agreed to normalise ties with Israel, in a decision announced earlier this month, and will sign its own peace accord.
Bahrain and the UAE have not fought wars with the Israel, unlike Egypt and Jordan which signed peace treaties with Israel in 1979 and 1994, respectively.
"I travel to achieve peace in exchange for peace and we reached two peace agreements in just one month," Mr Netanyahu said on Twitter as he began his journey to Washington on Sunday evening.
"This is a new era. These agreements will unite diplomatic peace with economic peace, and they will pump billions into our economy through investments, co-operation and joint ventures."
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Senior White House adviser Jared Kushner, centre right, and the US National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien, centre left, pose for a photo with UAE Air Force's Maj Gen Falah Al Qahtani,, and other officials at Al Dhafra airbase in Abu Dhabi. Reuters -
Senior White House adviser Jared Kushner at Louvre Abu Dhabi. Twitter/ @USAinUAE -
Senior adviser to the US president Jared Kushner being shown a replica of the Abrahamic Family House at Louvre Abu Dhabi. Twitter/ @USAinUAE -
Senior advisor to the US president Jared Kushner at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi. Twitter/ @USAinUAE -
Israeli National Security Adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat greets an Emirati official as he makes his way to board the plane to leave Abu Dhabi. EPA -
White House senior adviser Jared Kushner and US National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien during a visit to Al Dhafra airbase in Abu Dhabi. Reuters -
Senior advisor to the US president Jared Kushner at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi. Twitter/ @USAinUAE -
Senior White House adviser Jared Kushner, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr Anwar Gargash and head of Israel's National Security Council Meir Ben-Shabbat. Twitter/ @USAinUAE -
Israeli National Security Adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat, Senior White House adviser Jared Kushner and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash hold a meeting in Abu Dhabi. Reuters -
Senior White House adviser Jared Kushner, right, with Israeli National Security Adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat, left, arrive in the UAE on the first commercial flight between Israel and the UAE. Victor Besa / The National -
Senior White House adviser Jared Kushner speaks as US National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien looks on. Victor Besa / The National -
Israeli National Security Adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat, centre, and US National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien, on the tarmac after disembarking from the El Al flight. Victor Besa / The National -
Head of Israel's National Security Council Meir Ben-Shabbat delivers a speech upon his arrival. AFP -
US National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien delivers a speech upon arrival in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National -
US National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien, right, delivers a speech as Israeli National Security Adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat and White House adviser Jared Kushner look on. Victor Besa / The National -
US-Israeli delegation led by White House adviser Jared Kushner arrive in Abu Dhabi on the first commercial flight between Israel and the UAE. Victor Besa / The National -
Senior White House adviser Jared Kushner, US National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien and Israeli National Security Adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat disembark a plane after landing at Abu Dhabi International Airport. Reuters -
US and Israeli flags at Abu Dhabi airport. Victor Besa / The National -
A UAE official waits for Israeli and US delegates to disembark the Israeli flag carrier El Al's airliner after landing at Abu Dhabi International Airport. Reuters -
Senior White House adviserJared Kushner and US National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien speak to the media in an El Al airplane. AFP -
Reporters, Israeli and US delegates travelling on an Israeli El Al airliner prepare to disembark on arrival in Abu Dhabi. AP -
Israeli National Security Adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat, US National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien and US President's senior adviser Jared Kushner are seated during Israeli flag carrier El Al's flight LY971, from Tel Aviv to Abu Dhabi. EPA -
An official greeting message is seen on the Israeli carrier El Al airliner carrying Israeli and US delegates during their flight to Abu Dhabi. Reuters -
The Israeli flag carrier El Al's airliner lands at Abu Dhabi International Airport. Victor Besa / The National -
The Israeli flag carrier El Al's airliner lands at Abu Dhabi International Airport. Victor Besa / The National -
The Israeli flag carrier El Al's airliner approaches to land in Abu Dhabi. Reuters -
A view of the scenery through the window of Israeli flag carrier El Al's flight LY971, as it is approaching for landing at the airport of Abu Dhabi. EPA -
Senior White House adviser Jared Kushner, left, Israel's National Security Adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat, right, and US National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien, board the El Al flight to Abu Dhabi. EPA -
The US-Israel delegation board the plane. EPA -
Senior White House adviser Jared Kushner and US National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien pose with members of the US-Israel delegation before boarding the El Al's flight. AP -
Senior White House adviser Jared Kushner, right, looks on as US National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien speaks before boarding the El Al's flight. AP -
The Arabic, English and Hebrew word for 'Peace' is seen on the Israeli flag carrier El Al's airliner which carried Israel-US delegations to meet Emirati leadership in Abu Dhabi. AP -
A seat covering says 'Making History' in Arabic, English and Hebrew. Reuters -
A flight crew member stands in front of the El Al jet. AP -
Flight crew hold a meeting before the historic flight. Reuters -
A pilot goes through pre-flight checks. Reuters -
Screens displaying flight number LY971 to Abu Dhabi at Tel Aviv airport. Reuters -
Screens displaying flight number LY971 to Abu Dhabi at Tel Aviv airport. Reuters
The US announced the Abraham Accord between the UAE and Israel in mid-August.
The agreement came in a joint call between Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Mr Trump and Mr Netanyahu.
The first commercial flight between the UAE and Israel took place last month as the two countries looked to open up their tourism sectors.
On that flight was a high-level US-Israeli delegation led by White House senior adviser Jared Kushner.
