Israel’s KAN broadcaster said the UAE finalized the deal with the help of the Israel Land Authority and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office. The transaction is said to be worth tens of millions of shekels, reflecting deepening ties between the two countries under the Abraham Accords.

The report did not mention the exact location of the embassy or when it would be completed. The UAE’s diplomatic mission is currently based in leased premises in Tel Aviv, which was first approved in January 2021.

Neither Emirati nor Israeli officials have commented on the reports. However, the move comes at a time when Israel’s war on Gaza has drawn widespread condemnation, and the UAE has faced pressure from both Arab and Western nations over its continued relations with Israel.

Read more: Gaza ceasefire shattered – 97 killed as Israel accused of 80 truce breaches

Despite global criticism, UAE-Israel ties remain active in trade, tourism, and technology. Still, tensions have grown as Abu Dhabi warned that any annexation of the West Bank by Netanyahu’s government would be a “red line” and could endanger the Abraham Accords.

Reports from Reuters earlier suggested that the UAE had considered downgrading its diplomatic ties rather than cutting them entirely. In November, Israeli defence firms were also barred from participating in the Dubai Airshow, a move some linked to security concerns and others to Israel’s controversial strike on Qatar.

The UAE remains one of only a few Arab nations to maintain official diplomatic relations with Israel, even as public outrage intensifies across the Muslim world over Gaza’s humanitarian crisis.