In 2019, Israelis again noted a record 9 million trips abroad. Half of those who left the country did so more than once. Israelis are among the world's busiest tourists, so there is little wonder that 2020, with its global pandemic and the crippling limitations the coronavirus has imposed on global travel, has made many Israelis feel like they are going stir-crazy, having been robbed of one of their basic rights.
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As this is the case, there is little wonder that as soon as Israel and the United Arab Emirates agreed to normalize relations and Dubai opened its gates to Israeli tourists, the masses stormed these gates. But why?
There are, of course, many good reasons to visit Dubai: excitement from the peace agreement; curiosity about a world-renowned tourist destination that until now was closed to us; the short flight; the warm climate in the middle of winter; and the fact that the UAE is a "green" country – a huge draw in the age of corona.
For us, everything in Dubai is still brand new, and exciting at a time when the rest of the traditional tourist destinations are immersed in corona and require mandatory quarantine upon one's return.
Still, what's the rush? Dubai has already hosted one Haredi wedding, and ultra-Orthodox travel agencies are already negotiating various destination wedding packages. Several business conferences have also taken place there, including dozens of Israeli companies and businesspeople – with reporters in tow.
There are currently four daily flights to Dubai, and mind you – this is one-way tourism, as the Emiratis are not exactly flocking to Israel. This makes Israelis look over-excited and frankly, at this point, "Dubai fever" is getting a little embarrassing.
Dubai's appeal crosses all sectors and political views: Arabs, Jews, secular and religious are all flocking to the UAE capital as if to meet a long-lost relative from the era of the Inquisition. Tourism is wonderful; trade ties and strategic alliances – amazing, but combined with Israelis' famous wanderlust, one has to ask: how provincial can you be? Even more so in the age of corona, when no country remains "green" for long. It flying overseas really the most important thing right now?
One also has to remember that Dubai, for all its economic and strategic advantages, is not exactly the most progressive sheikdom on earth.
It has institutionalized, legal discrimination against women, who are subject by law to the authority of male relatives for the purpose of marriage, work, or travel. Dubai restricts the religious freedom of non-Muslims, and is notorious for its treatment of foreign workers, who make up more than 70% of its population.
This is not a reason not to sign peace agreements or other deals with it – Israelis are difficult enough to rein in and we're not about to hand out behavioral grades to countries with which we wish to live in peace. But there is also no reason to rush direct flights to the world's largest shopping mall.
The peace deal with the UAE is wonderful, but it wouldn't hurt to keep our eyes open and our enthusiasm in check.
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