Israel ceremonially opened its gleaming pavilion at the world's fair in Dubai on Thursday, over a year after normalizing ties with the United Arab Emirates and amid a pandemic that has disrupted much of the tourist and cultural exchanges promised by the US-brokered accords.
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The pavilion's arch – chock-full of videos promoting Israel's windmills, high-tech advances, and historic sights – came to life as night fell.
"I am delighted to invite all of you to come and visit my country," Tourism Minister Yoel Razvozov told the crowd of revelers after cutting the ribbon.
Israeli officials, in Dubai to cement ties after the two countries inked a long-awaited visa waiver agreement this week, traipsed through the mirrored pavilion, their reflections unfolding around them. Emiratis in traditional floor-length white dress gazed at panoramic views of Jerusalem's Old City gliding across vertical screens as a pop rendition of "Shalom Aleichem" played. Jewish attendees wore kippahs emblazoned with the tourist logo of the UAE.
"It's not only [about]pavilions and visitors' centers," Noam Katz, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said of the Israeli presence at Dubai's Expo. "It's power gathering."
Amir Halevi, the Tourism Ministry director-general, said he expects an influx of Israeli tourists to visit Expo in the coming months as virus-induced travel restrictions ease.
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