Embassies of the UAE, Kingdom of Bahrain, Israel, and US in the UK jointly celebrate second anniversary of Abraham Accords

The Embassies of the United Arab Emirates, Israel, the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the United States in the UK hosted an evening reception in celebration of the second anniversary of the signing of the historic Abraham Accords.

The reception, which was attended by diplomats, business leaders, and government representatives, recognized the enormous impact that the Abraham Accords have had across the Middle East and beyond.

Signed in Washington D.C. in September 2020 between representatives of the UAE, Israel, and the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Abraham Accords are widely recognized as an important step towards achieving peace in the Middle East and enhancing stability and security.

Throughout the region, the Accords have stimulated trade and economic cooperation, with benefits derived across major sectors, from the energy and resources sector to healthcare, food security, advanced technology, and agriculture.

Today’s reception included a moderated discussion between the Ambassadors of the UAE, Israel, Kingdom of Bahrain, and the United States to the Court of St James’s. They spoke of the economic, and cultural benefits of the Abraham Accords.

H.E. Mansoor Abulhoul, UAE Ambassador to the UK, said: “The Abraham Accords have had a transformational impact on the Middle East. In the UAE, we have seen a substantial increase in bilateral cooperation across a variety of fields, from trade and investment to tourism and health. Through various agreements, including the UAE-Israel Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) that was signed earlier this year, I am certain our collaboration will continue to flourish to ultimately produce unprecedented benefits for our peoples.”

H.E. Tzipi Hotovely, Israeli Ambassador to the Court of St James’s, said: “The Abraham Accords have created a tectonic shift in Middle Eastern politics. Since their implementation two years ago, the Accords have brought about a new era of peace and prosperity in the region, bringing with it an exciting wave of cooperation and collaboration with our wider Arab friends and neighbours. Tourism between our countries has boomed, with travel to and from Accords nations made possible for the first time ever. Israel looks forward to further deepening and strengthening our relations and continuing to build a brighter future for the region.”

H.E. Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Bahraini Ambassador to the Court of St James’s, said: “Two years on, the Abraham Accords are continuing to change the dynamic across our region, demonstrating the value of genuine and deep-rooted cooperation and underscoring the tremendous potential of the Middle East and its peoples. The Kingdom of Bahrain has moved quickly to seize the opportunities created, expanding its bilateral cooperation with the State of Israel across the broadest range of issues while also working through the Negev Forum process to deepen multilateral ties and deliver real benefits for all the peoples of our region.”

H.E. Jane Hartley, US Ambassador to the Court of St James’s, said: “We are thrilled to celebrate two years since the signing of the historic Abraham Accords. The United States is proud to have played a role in this process, and we look forward to helping strengthen, deepen, and widen these partnerships in the years to come. I am optimistic to see how far we can go when we all work together to reach these goals.”