Despite travel warning, Israel says diplomatic missions in UAE remain open: What to know
The developments come as Israeli Ambassador Yossi Shelley faces growing scrutiny over his behavior in the UAE, with media reports suggesting diplomatic tensions and possible internal discussions about his future in the role.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry said on Friday that its diplomatic missions in the United Arab Emirates remain open after a security warning was issued Thursday over safety threats to Israelis traveling in the country.
What happened: In a statement published Friday, the ministry said its embassy in Abu Dhabi and consulate in Dubai continue to operate in coordination with local authorities and that Israeli diplomats are receiving security protection.
The missions will close for the Jewish holiday of Tisha B’Av over the weekend, but are set to reopen normally on Monday.
The announcement came just a day after a security warning was issued on Thursday by Israel's National Security Council (NSC), which warned that "terrorist organizations (the Iranians, Hamas, Hezbollah and Global Jihad) are increasing their efforts to harm Israel."
"The NSC is reiterating the possibility that they will try to carry out attacks against Israeli and Jewish targets in the UAE, especially on Jewish holidays and Shabbat," the statement read.
The NSC strongly advised against nonessential travel and warned those who are traveling to the UAE to be extra vigilant, avoid displaying Israeli and Jewish symbols in public and avoid large gatherings of Israelis.
On Thursday, Hebrew media reported that Israel was evacuating most of its diplomatic staff, including Israel’s ambassador to the UAE, Yossi Shelley.
Al-Monitor has reached out to the Israeli Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the UAE’s Foreign Ministry for comment.
In 2024, Rabbi Zvi Kogan, an Israeli Moldovan rabbi and emissary to the UAE, was found murdered in Dubai. Israeli officials labeled the killing an "antisemitic act of terror," and Emirati authorities arrested three Uzbek nationals who later were sentenced to death. In early 2025, Israel's NSC said that "Iranian terrorist elements attempted to lure an Israeli businessman to the United Arab Emirates with the intention of harming him," and encouraged Israeli citizens abroad to be vigilant.
Background: The warning and reported evacuation follows reports from Israeli media about Shelley's alleged controversial behavior, as Al-Monitor's Rina Bassist reported.
On Wednesday, Israeli media reported that Emirati authorities had lodged an unofficial complaint with the Israeli government over Shelley’s behavior following an incident at a Dubai bar in which he allegedly acted in an "undignified" manner. While details remain scant, Israel’s Channel 12 said Shelley was accompanied by several Israeli men and women at the time and that his own bodyguards reported the incident, prompting backlash from Emirati officials.
Despite the reports, Israel’s Foreign Ministry on Wednesday stated Shelley is not being recalled to Israel, saying any such move “was not discussed and is not on the table.”
Know more: Since the signing of the Abraham Accords in 2020, which saw the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan normalize ties with Israel, the UAE has been seen as a friendly Arab neighbor to Israel. Amid the war in Gaza, relations between the two countries have cooled, with the UAE scaling back public engagement with Israel and doubling down on its humanitarian support in Gaza.
