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
✍️ How to write this paper — guide, tools & examples ▾
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).
Enhanced Security
Security is also a significant benefit of the Abraham Accords, according to the Trump Administration, which helped broker the deal. As the United States Institute of Peace points out, "the Trump administration has prioritized improving Israel's relations with the Gulf as a part of its regional security agenda (particularly the effort to counter Iran) and its effort to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict" (Barron, 2020). The agreement enables the UAE and Israel to coordinate more closely on security matters regarding threats and opportunities in the Middle East. Israel has long had an active interest in enhancing its security strategy in the region, and its new formalized relationship with the UAE bodes well for its plans.
Cafiero and Sudetic (2020) note that the security interests of the UAE and Israel have been closely aligned for much of the 21st century. Two threats that have brought the two states closer together are Iran and Turkey: "the expansion of Iranian influence, the 'Arab Spring' revolutions of 2011, and Turkey's rise as a 'neo-Ottoman' power against the backdrop of the relative decline of US hegemony have done much to put Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv in many of the same boats" (Cafiero & Sudetic, 2020). The Accords now make it possible for the UAE and Israel to engage in an overt security relationship that will protect their regional interests and influence. Security enhancement for Israel could take the form of an advanced early warning system against Iranian missiles. Other areas where security will likely be improved include "a connected command and control network for missile defense; naval operations in the Red Sea, northern Indian Ocean and Arabian Gulf; shared military technology; and a regular exchange of intelligence" (Cafiero & Sudetic, 2020).
Due to the Accords, the UAE may now be able to "solicit Israeli help in protecting the UAE's critical infrastructure, including its oil facilities, desalination and power plants, airports, and seaports" (Cafiero & Sudetic, 2020). Israel also possesses an Iron Dome missile defense system that could be used to supplement the Patriot missile systems already in place in the UAE. The UAE may therefore end up purchasing Israel's Iron Dome system to further enhance its own security.
One concern for Israel, however, is that if the regimes of Gulf Arab States were to fail, the weapons and security assets they obtain might fall into the hands of groups hostile to Israel. Israeli leaders recognize the goodwill of states like the UAE but worry that these regimes do not accurately reflect the broader attitudes of the general Arab population (Cafiero & Sudetic, 2020). For that reason, some trepidation remains on Israel's part. It is unclear whether formal relations will do anything to alleviate these concerns. Over time, however, with greater trade and tourism between the two states, cultural barriers among the general populations may be overcome, which would in turn lessen these concerns.
Conclusion
The formal relationship between the UAE and Israel may be the dawn of a new era in the Middle East. While these two states have cooperated in the 21st century, it is only now that their relationship is formally recognized. This will benefit each state in terms of growing tourism and strengthening mutual economic ties. The UAE now has a new outlet for exporting oil, and Israel now has a new customer base for its agricultural technology. Tourism will increase between the two states, helping the populations of both learn from one another and strengthening diplomatic ties over time. From a security and defense standpoint, the two states also stand to gain as they collaborate more closely on defending their mutual interests in the Middle East.
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
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
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
Always verify citation format against your institution’s current style guide requirements.