New Israeli foreign minister lands in UAE on first state visit

Israeli foreign minister Yair Lapid (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)

Israel’s new foreign minister touched down in the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, starting the first high-level trip by an Israeli official to the Gulf Arab state since the two countries normalised relations last year.

According to the Israeli foreign ministry, Yair Lapid is set to inaugurate Israel’s Embassy in the capital of Abu Dhabi, meeting with senior Emirati officials — including foreign minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan — and attending a trade expo where Israeli companies are exhibiting technology.