There Is A Dispute Over Security Arrangements, Israel Could Stop Flights To Dubai

JAKARTA - Israel said on Sunday it could halt the country's airline flights to Dubai in the next few days, due to a dispute over security arrangements, but was considering switching them to Abu Dhabi instead.

An Israeli official said current security arrangements for three Israeli airlines flying to Dubai International Airport: El Al, Israir and Arkia, would expire on Tuesday, leaving negotiators 48 hours to find a solution.

Direct flights from Israel to the United Arab Emirates began after the two countries' formal relations in 2020. Hundreds of thousands of Israelis have visited the Gulf state.

The Israeli airline is under the authority of Israel's Shin Bet security service, which said it had run into discrepancies with its Dubai counterparts being able to stop flights, but did not specify what the differences were.

"If Israeli airline flights on this route are indeed stopped, the possibility of transferring Israeli flights to Abu Dhabi is being investigated," the Shin Bet said in a statement, citing Reuters February 6.

Dubai's state media office did not immediately respond to an email request for comment.

Meanwhile, the Emirati state airline, flydubai, will most likely benefit if the Israeli airline stops flying to Dubai, as it operates direct flights to Tel Aviv.

Separately, spokespersons for El Al and Israir said their flights to Dubai were on schedule, for now. Arkia did not immediately comment on this matter.