Why the flydubai attempted hijacking could end up strengthening Israel, UAE ties – analysis

PELONI:  The connection between Israel and the UAE has become an increasingly important outlier among Israel’s relations in the region and this is demonstrated by the strength of travel which exists between these two nations which is not just based around travel.  From diplomatic projects in the Horn of Africa to the development of AI dominance to opposition to the Iranian menace, to economic investments and travel exchanges, the connections between Abu Dhabi and Jerusalem demonstrate a blossoming aspect between these two Abraham Accord partners.  What goes unspoken in all of this however, is that the UAE uses its alliance partnership with Israel to confound Israel’s survival with its continued support for the well expired Two State Solution and it does this both directly with its influence with Israel and indirectly thru diplomatic partners in common between these two nations, not the least of which is to counted with the US which is a co-signatory of the AA.  It is also notable that the UAE has maintained opposition to Israel’s war in Gaza even putting forward a motion calling for an end to the war in Gaza less than two months following October 7 and just a little more than a month after Israel began operations in Gaza.  So the relationship is both important and complex.  The move to enter into cooperation with Israel by the UAE was a bold move which was not entirely supported by Emerati citizens, which can easily be explained as an effort by the UAE to balance between domestic sentiments and its role in the AA.  Nonetheless, while we can and should celebrate and take note of the importance of the relationship between Jerusalem and Abu Dhabi, it must be understood that this relationship has played an important role in raising support for a second Palestinian state, while ignoring the relevance of the already created Palestinian state which exists in Jordan.  See additional reports on the relationship between Israel and the UAE below the article.

The challenges that this incident presents also likely provide opportunities, similar to how the US and Saudi Arabia were able to work together after Septembe 11.

By SETH J. FRANTZMAN | October 4, 2026

President Donald J. Trump, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Foreign Affairs for the United Arab Emirates Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan signs the Abraham Accords Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020, on the South Lawn of the White House. Photo bBy The White House from Washington, DC - President Trump and The First Lady Participate in an Abraham Accords Signing Ceremony, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=94136660President Trump, Bahrain Foreign Min. Dr. Rashid Al-Zayani, Israeli PM Netanyahu and UAE FM Al Nahyan signs the Abraham Accords. Photo by The White House from Washington, DC, Public Domain, Wikipedia

On Sunday, Transportation Minister Miri Regev met with United Arab Emirates Ambassador to Israel Mohamed Al-Khaja. Both Regev and Khaja posted about the meeting on their X/Twitter social media accounts.

The symbolism is important here. It shows Israel and the UAE working together toward the future in the wake of the attack aboard the flydubai flight. It 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 copilot attacked the pilot with an axe in an attempt to take over the plane and crash it.

The perpetrator, Hamam al-Hammami, had planned the attack for some time, Reuters reported. Hammami is from Oman, but he has lived in other places, including in 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 Indian pilot Capt. Smit Machchhar and the passengers saved the plane as the attack unfolded. Two reserve crew pilots then helped save the plane and landed 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.

Etihad and flydubai were praised by Israel for continuing to fly during the recent conflict. They continued flying even as US and other airlines often canceled.

This is a testament to the strength of the UAE-Israel relationship. It is part of the larger Abraham Accords relationships, which include Bahrain, Morocco, and other countries. The Tel Aviv-Dubai flight corridor is important, and it had several flights per day.

Symbol of Abraham Accords

The flights are a symbol of the Abraham Accords. When the Abraham Accords were signed, many people hoped there would be a warm peace with the UAE and Bahrain – different from the colder peace with Jordan and Egypt.

There are very few people flying to Amman or Cairo, compared with Dubai. This matters. The UAE worked hard to be a welcoming destination in the fall of 2020 and in 2021.

There were many hurdles. The COVID pandemic, for instance, was going on in 2020-2022. When it ended, there was a brief period when everything seemed normal – until the October 7 massacre in 2023.

Israel and the UAE have both suffered from Iran’s attacks. Beginning this past February, the UAE found itself on the front line 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; they are also other issues relating to the economy, trade, and security.

The attack aboard the flydubai flight could derail some of the progress. Nevertheless, it is clear that the UAE and Israel have weathered many challenges already.

The UAE did not like the terminology used in Israel to describe “rescue” flights going to the UAE after the flydubai incident, Israeli media outlets reported. Israeli airlines returned thousands of Israelis stranded in Dubai as the investigation unfolded.

This is why the meeting between Regev and the Khaja is so important.

“During the meeting, we discussed cooperation in investigating the incident that could have ended in a major disaster,” Regev wrote on X. “From the moment of the aircraft crashing 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.”

“We cannot allow extremist elements to undermine the strategic relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates,” she added. “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.”

 Khaja wrote: “We discussed the bilateral relations between the two countries and the ways to deepen cooperation in the fields of aviation and transport… [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 said he greatly appreciated “the cooperation and ongoing support of Her Honor Minister Regev on this matter.”

These are important words and symbols of the relationship between Israel and the UAE. In addition, it 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 opportunity

The 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, even though there was some anti-American extremism that emanated from Saudi Arabia in the 1990s. Osama Bin Laden was from Saudi Arabia, for instance.

The US and Saudi Arabia were able to work together after 9/11; however, al-Qaeda was eventually 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 Abraham Accords.

In May 2020, an Etihad Airways plane flew from the UAE to Israel to deliver COVID support for the Palestinian community. More flights came in June.

Even before the Abraham 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 Abraham Accords were signed that September, and the first flydubai flight arrived in November.

October 6, 2026 | 1 Comment »

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