THE much-awaited Dubai airshow kicked off in the so-called city of gold earlier this week. While exhibitors and visitors worldwide rushed to join the event, the stalls dedicated to Israeli companies had no staff to welcome guests.
The exhibition stands of Israeli weapons makers Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems were surprisingly desolate during the start of the opening day of the weeklong Dubai Airshow on Monday.
It was not immediately clear why there were no salespeople available at either exhibition stand. The five-day show started on November 13 and will end on November 17 at the Al Maktoum Airport at Dubai World Central.
The stalls were left empty amid the ongoing war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas. The UAE condemned Israel’s military escalation in the Palestinian territory but refused the proposal of other Arab countries to cut ties with the Jewish state.
Israeli companies have only participated in UAE exhibitions and conferences after several Arab nations signed the Abraham Accords in Washington in 2020.
