UAE–Israel Abraham Accords: Economic and Strategic Benefits
This paper examines the wide-ranging benefits of the Abraham Accords, the 2020 normalization agreement between the United Arab Emirates and Israel. Drawing on sources from the United States Institute of Peace, the Atlantic Council, and international news outlets, the paper analyzes economic gains — including oil exports, tourism, and technology sales — alongside enhanced security cooperation targeting Iranian and Turkish influence. It further explores Israel's agricultural technology transfers to the UAE, the prospects for coordinated counterterrorism and anti-drug-trafficking efforts, and the broader diplomatic implications for Gulf States and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The paper concludes that the Accords represent a potentially transformative shift in Middle Eastern geopolitics.
- Introduction: Overview of Accords' benefits across key domains
- Economic Benefits: Oil, tourism, tech exports, and investment gains
- Enhanced Security: Countering Iran and Turkey through joint defense
- Agricultural Benefits: Israeli agri-tech addressing UAE food security
- Weapons and the Fight Against Terror and Drug Trafficking: Arms deals and coordinated counterterrorism efforts
- Diplomacy: Accords as catalyst for broader regional peace
- Conclusion: Accords as potential new era for Middle East
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What makes this paper effective
- The paper organizes its argument around clearly defined benefit categories — economic, security, agricultural, weapons/counterterrorism, and diplomatic — giving readers a systematic view of the Accords' scope.
- It balances optimism with nuance, acknowledging Israel's concern that weapons could fall into hostile hands if Gulf Arab regimes were to fail, which prevents the analysis from becoming one-sided advocacy.
- Concrete figures (e.g., $300–$500 million in projected exports, $100 million UAE investment in vertical farming) ground the argument in evidence rather than generality.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper demonstrates effective use of attributed quotation to carry analytical weight. Rather than paraphrasing every source, the author selects pointed direct quotes — from France 24, Cafiero and Sudetic, and Goldberg — and briefly contextualizes each. This technique shows readers exactly what the source claims while allowing the writer to frame its significance within the broader argument.
Structure breakdown
The paper follows a classic thematic essay structure: a brief introduction previewing all major benefit categories, five body sections each devoted to one category, and a conclusion that synthesizes the key takeaways. Each body section opens with a topic sentence, incorporates cited evidence, and closes with a forward-looking observation. The conclusion avoids introducing new claims, instead reinforcing the argument that the Accords signal a new era in Middle Eastern relations.
Introduction
The formalization of ties between the UAE and Israel stands to benefit both states in numerous ways. One of the primary ways in which the two states will gain is through the economic boost the relationship will provide. Sales of oil from the UAE to Israel and sales of agricultural technology from Israel to the UAE will create a win-win situation for both. The two states are also expected to collaborate more closely on security matters, which will help the region combat terrorism and drug trafficking. Tourism is expected to increase between the two states, improving the domestic economies of each. A new era of diplomacy appears to be underway now that the Abraham Accords have been signed. It is very likely that more Gulf States will embrace this new spirit of tolerance and friendly relations now being manifested between the UAE and Israel.
Economic Benefits
The economic benefits of the normalization of relations between Israel and the UAE are among the most important considerations surrounding the Abraham Accords. The main economic boost for Israel is that the UAE is an oil-rich Arab state, which means there is ample money to invest in Israel and ample oil for Israel to obtain through negotiated terms. Israel itself offers a boost to tourism in the UAE as well as access to its high-end technological developments (France 24, 2020). As France 24 (2020) reports, "from oil to tourism to cutting-edge technologies, the two countries hope to benefit from the ripple effect of their 'historic' agreement." The UAE had seen steady economic growth in recent years, but in the quarter preceding the signing of the Accords its economy contracted by 3.5% for the first time in years. The deal between the UAE and Israel thus gives the UAE an opportunity to restart strong economic growth (France 24, 2020). The UAE views Israel as an oil-hungry customer that would enable the Gulf State to increase oil exports and bring in additional revenue. Additionally, it stands to benefit from Israeli tourists looking to experience Dubai for the first time. Advertising for tourism in the UAE is already underway in Israel thanks to the Accords, creating significant incentives for the Gulf State's local businesses.
Likewise, Israel sees the normalization of relations as a major boon to its own economy: "Israel's Channel 12 television reported that the economy ministry had estimated exports to the UAE could reach between $300 million and $500 million a year" (France 24, 2020). Israel also expects up to $350 million in investments from the UAE annually, particularly in the sectors of "cyber industries, medical equipment, financial technology and communications" (France 24, 2020).
Over the past two decades, Israel's Foreign Ministry has helped Israeli companies arrange business deals with firms in the Arab Gulf States. The Abraham Accords will facilitate and dramatically enhance this trend by opening the door to easier business relations and economic opportunities on both sides. One example is the Israeli start-up company Bo&Bo, which "had for two years been trying to distribute its advanced physiotherapy equipment in the UAE through third parties" (France 24, 2020). According to the company's founder, "It was a huge headache as you had to manufacture it in a different country," but with the signing of the Accords "things have accelerated, with Bo&Bo having negotiated a first contract in the UAE to distribute its 'Made in Israel' products there over the next three years" (France 24, 2020).
The economic opportunities do not stop there. The Atlantic Council reports that Israel and the UAE "will exchange expertise to seek COVID-19 treatments and cures, reliable food and water sources as well as increase standards of living across the region and grow entrepreneurship and investment" (Grathwohl, 2020). Energy sector cooperation and the expansion of venture capital between the two states indicate that the Abraham Accords will be a major win-win for both nations. Moreover, by normalizing relations, the UAE opens itself to receiving Israeli expatriates in its own industries and to forging new economic pathways with other countries (Grathwohl, 2020).
References
Alexander, K. (2020). Significance and implications of diplomatic relations between the UAE and Israel. Retrieved from https://trendsresearch.org/insight/significance-and-implications-of-diplomatic-relations-between-the-uae-and-israel/
Barron, R. (2020). What do normalized Israel-UAE relations mean for the region? Retrieved from
Cafiero, G., & Sudetic, B. (2020). What would a closer security partnership between Israel and the UAE look like? Retrieved from https://gulfif.org/what-would-a-closer-security-partnership-between-israel-and-the-uae-look-like/
France 24. (2020). UAE, Israel eye economic benefits of normalisation deal. Retrieved from
Goldberg, J. (2020). Iran and the Palestinians lose out in the Abraham Accords. Retrieved from https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/09/winners-losers/616364/
Grathwohl, L. (2020). UAE-Israel accord will drive economic growth in the Middle East, says Emirati Minister of Economy. Retrieved from https://www.atlanticcouncil.org https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/menasource/uae-israel-accord-will-drive-economic-growth-in-the-middle-east-says-emirati-minister-of-economy/
Kaveler, T. (2020). UAE, Israel both expect to benefit from agricultural ties. Retrieved from https://themedialine.org/life-lines/uae-israel-both-expect-to-benefit-from-agricultural-ties/
Ng, A. (2020). UAE minister says 'the whole region' benefits from his country's deal with Israel. Retrieved from https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/17/uae-says-middle-east-benefits-from-its-diplomatic-accord-with-israel.html
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