Israel evacuates most diplomatic staff from UAE amid heightened security threats

UPDATED: Aug 1, 2025 06:23 IST

Israel has ordered the evacuation of the majority of its diplomatic mission staff and their families from the United Arab Emirates, following the Security Council’s (NSC) escalation of travel warnings for Israelis residing in the Gulf state.

The NSC cited intelligence that terrorist groups, including Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, and global jihadist factions, are stepping up efforts to target Israeli and Jewish individuals in the UAE, particularly around Jewish holidays and weekends. "We are emphasizing this travel warning given our understanding that terrorist organizations (the Iranians, Hamas, Hezbollah and Global Jihad) are increasing their efforts to harm Israel", the NSC said in a statement.

REGIONAL TENSIONS
Israeli officials attribute the elevated threat to recent military operations against Iran and to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with concerns that these factors may drive retaliatory attacks. Security authorities believe that anti-Israel incitement and the aftermath of the offensive on Iran have increased risks for Israeli nationals and representatives abroad.

The UAE’s Israeli and Jewish community has expanded and become more prominent since the two countries normalised relations in 2020 through the US- brokered Abraham Accords. This marked the first such agreement between Israel and a Gulf Arab state.Israeli and UAE foreign ministries had not responded to requests for comment regarding the evacuation order. Prior to this, the UAE did not officially recognise Israel, with diplomatic contacts largely informal and limited. The agreement brought a historic normalization of ties, leading to the exchange of ambassadors, opening of embassies, and cooperation in various sectors including trade, tourism, and security. The UAE's Israeli and Jewish community has since grown more visible and active. However, the relationship exists amid regional tensions, especially related to Iran and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

ADDITIONAL CONCERNS

The move comes after the rare murder of an Israeli-Moldovan rabbi in the UAE last November, for which three individuals were sentenced to death in March, further highlighting security sensitivities for Israelis in the Gulf state. Despite being viewed as one of the safest countries in the Middle East, recent threats linked to these tensions have heightened security concerns for Israeli nationals and diplomats in the UAE.

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With inputs from Reuters