Israeli minister made secret UAE visit for education, AI talks

Israeli Education Minister Yoav Kisch made a secret visit to the United Arab Emirates earlier this month to discuss expanding cooperation on education, research and artificial intelligence, Israeli media reported.

The visit, which took place from 11 to 16 January, was kept under media censorship until Kisch returned to Israel, with officials citing security concerns.

According to Israel’s education ministry, Kisch met his Emirati counterpart Sarah al-Amiri, with the two sides discussing ways to deepen academic cooperation and joint research initiatives, including in AI.

Emirati state media said Kisch also met Ali al-Nuami, head of the UAE’s Defence, Interior and Foreign Affairs Committee. The talks focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation in research and innovation.

The Israeli delegation toured several universities during the visit, as well as Jewish educational institutions in the Gulf state.

Israeli officials described the trip as the first visit by an Israeli education minister to the UAE since the signing of the US-brokered Abraham Accords more than five years ago.

Israel's ambassador to the UAE welcomed the talks, describing education as a "central pillar" of the growing relationship between the two countries.

The UAE was among four Arab states that normalised relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords in 2020. In 2021, the two countries agreed to expand educational exchanges, leading to an increase in Emirati students enrolling at Israeli universities.

In 2023, the UAE announced it would introduce Holocaust education into primary and secondary school curricula.

The visit comes despite widespread regional and international condemnation of Israel's genocide in Gaza, which has killed more than 71,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children.

The UAE has faced growing criticism across the region for continuing to deepen ties with Israel amid the ongoing assault.