Israeli firms to miss IDEX 2021 in Abu Dhabi due to Covid-19 travel restrictions

Israeli firms will not be participating at IDEX 2021 in Abu Dhabi due to Covid-10 travel restrictions, according to a news report by Reuters.

Dozens of Israeli firms were due to take part at the defence expo in the UAE capital from February 21-25 for the first time, five months after Israel and UAE signed an accord to formalise relations.

According to Reuters, a special request by Israel’s Defence Ministry for the firms to fly out to Abu Dhabi was denied by a Regional Cooperation Ministry authorisation panel.

Read: Israel wants to build land corridor with UAE for movement of goods

Israel banned international air travel on January 26 to stem a surge in Covid-19 infections. The ban is still in effect, despite recent reports showing the country’s massive vaccination campaign is winning the fight against the coronavirus.

Reuters quoted a Regional Cooperation Ministry spokesman who said the request “had to be denied, despite the desire to advance promote defence activity, and given the need to making unprejudiced decisions”.

Israel and the UAE signed the Abraham Accords in September 2020 to normalise ties between the two countries. Part of the treaty was an agreement to advance defence and military cooperation.

Israeli tech companies participated in GITEX Technology Week in Dubai in December 2020, the first time Israel has been officially represented at a UAE trade event.