UAE-Israel ties may improve after flydubai event, akin to US-Saudi relations post-9/11 - analysis

The challenges that this incident presents also likely provide opportunities, similar to how the US and Saudi Arabia were able to work together after 9/11. Follow us on GoogleA plane, carrying passengers who were on the FlyDubai aircraft bound for Israel from the United Arab Emirates, which was diverted to Saudi Arabia following an emergency signal, arrives at the Ben Gurion International Airport, in Lod, near Tel Aviv, Israel, September 30, 2026.(photo credit: REUTERS/AMMAR AWAD)OCTOBER 5, 2026 13:06Transportation Minister Miri Regev met on Sunday with the United Arab Emirates Ambassador to Israel, Mohamed Al-Khaja, and both posted about the meeting on their X accounts. The symbolism is important here, as it shows Israel and the UAE working together towards the future in the wake of the attack aboard the flydubai flight.This shows how Israel and the UAE will be able to learn lessons and may increase their ties and coordination in the wake of the incident in which heroes stepped forward to save the plane.The investigation into what happened on flydubai flight FZ1073 is still ongoing. The co-pilot attacked the pilot with an axe in an attempt to take over the plane and crash it. A recent Reuters report said that the perpetrator had planned the attack for some time.The perpetrator, Hamam al-Hammami, is from Oman, but he has lived in other places, including Australia, and also studied in the UK. It will take time to piece together all the details of the attack. What is clear is that the heroism of the Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar and the passengers saved the plane as the attack unfolded. Two reserve crew pilots then helped save the plane and land it in Saudi Arabia. In the wake of the attack, there is a lot of spotlight on the flights to Israel from the UAE. The Abraham Accords paved the way for a major air corridor between Israel and the UAE. Around 1.35 million passengers flew between the UAE and Israel in 2025. Israel praised Etihad and flydubai for continuing to fly during the recent conflict, flying even as the US and other airlines often canceled.Travelers board a FlyDubai aircraft at Ben Gurion International Airport after a separate FlyDubai flight from the United Arab Emirates to Israel was diverted to Saudi Arabia following an emergency signal, in Lod, near Tel Aviv, Israel, September 30, 2026. (credit: REUTERS/AMMAR AWAD)This is a testament to the strength of the UAE-Israel relationship. It is part of the larger Abraham Accords relationships that include Bahrain, Morocco, and other countries. The Tel Aviv to Dubai flight corridor is important, and it includes numerous flights per day.Symbol of Abraham AccordsThe flights are a symbol of the Abraham Accords. When the Accords took place, many people hoped that there would be a warm peace with the UAE and Bahrain, different than the colder peace with Jordan and Egypt. There are very few people flying to Amman or Cairo in comparison to Dubai. This matters.The UAE worked hard to be a welcoming destination in the fall of 2020 and in 2021. There were many hurdles. COVID, for instance, was going on in 2020-2022. When it ended, there was a brief period where everything seemed normal until the October 7 attack in 2023.Israel and the UAE have both suffered from Iran’s attacks. For instance, beginning in February 2026, the UAE found itself on the frontline of the conflict in the Gulf. As such, Israel and the UAE are now both hardened by conflict. They have learned many lessons. The lessons are not just about air defenses, but also other issues relating to the economy, trade and security.The attack aboard the flydubai flight could derail some of the progress. However, it is clear that the UAE and Israel have weathered many challenges already. Reports in Israeli media suggested that the UAE did not like the terminology used in Israel to describe “rescue” flights going to the UAE after the flydubai incident, in which Israeli airlines went to pick up thousands of Israelis stranded in Dubai as the investigation unfolded.This is why the meeting between Regev and the Khaja is so important. Regev wrote on X that “during the meeting, we discussed cooperation in investigating the incident that could have ended in a major disaster. From the moment of the aircraft crushing attempt, the Ambassador stands by our side and assists as much as possible. I greatly appreciate the clear stance and responsibility that the Emiratis are demonstrating in these complex moments.”She added that “we cannot allow extremist elements to undermine the strategic relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. We agreed to continue the cooperation and strengthen ties in the fields of aviation and transportation, and to work together to ensure the safety of passengers and flights.”Ambassador Khaja posted about the meeting and described it as productive. “We discussed the bilateral relations between the two countries and the ways to deepen cooperation in the fields of aviation and transport.” He added that “as part of the ongoing consultation and coordination between us, we also discussed increasing flight frequency in the coming period. Additionally, we addressed strengthening preparedness and advance planning to address various developments, with the aim of ensuring smooth and orderly movement of passengers and goods.” He noted that he greatly appreciated “the cooperation and ongoing support of Her Honor Minister Regev on this matter.”These words and symbols are important to the relationship between Israel and the UAE. In addition, this is a practical development. What comes next will be more investigations into what happened and also the lessons that can be learned. In addition, it is likely that security processes may be changed. There will be lessons to learn not just in Jerusalem and Abu Dhabi, but also around the world. With each of these types of incidents, there are lessons to be learned.Challenges of flydubai incident are also an opportunityThe challenges that this incident presents also likely provide opportunities. Countries can take away from these types of hurdles a new commitment to their relationship. Consider how US-Saudi relations have improved over the years, despite the fact that there was some anti-American extremism that emanated from Saudi Arabia in the 1990s. Osama Bin Laden was from Saudi Arabia, for instance.However, the US and Saudi Arabia were able to work together after 9/11, and over time al-Qaeda was mostly defeated in the Arabian Peninsula. This illustrates how security challenges can lead to taking threats seriously and working more closely.Evidence shows that Israel, the UAE, and other countries have already been working together under the umbrella of US Central Command. This is a phenomenon relating to regional threats, such as Iran. The Abraham Accords were signed during the COVID crisis. In fact, cooperation during the pandemic helped pave the way for the Accords. In May 2020, an Etihad Airways plane flew from the United Arab Emirates to Israel to deliver COVID support aimed at the Palestinian community. More flights came in June.Even before the Accords were signed, there was a deal in July 2020 between Israel Aerospace Industries and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems to develop breakthrough technology with Group42 in the UAE. The Accords were signed in September. The first flydubai flight arrived in November 2020.Follow us on Google