Dubai is known globally as an ultra-modern city synonymous with luxury and glamor. It's a vibrant and lively destination that combines first-class hotels with world-class cuisine, and endless possibilities for entertainment. The visionary behind Dubai, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, is the man credited with the Emirates' progress, and with its branding.

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In fewer than three decades, Dubai transformed itself from a regional center to a global one.  Despite common (foreign) misconceptions, Dubai's success was not based on oil reserves, but on leveraging human talent and tourism, all while positioning itself as a commercial center.

Most of Dubai's GDP (over 95%) is non-oil-based. In fact, oil has so far accounted for less than 1% of Dubai's GDP, while tourism produced 20% of the GDP. These figures explain why Dubai has become a more dynamic economy.

For the common tourist, and for those who will be visiting from Israel, Dubai has it all- from its breathtaking views from the world's tallest building to artificial islands, skydiving, scuba diving, skiing, ziplining and more. Yes, there's more. Dubai's attractions make for the perfect Instagram shot, from its miracle garden to Burj Khalifa's evening fountain show, world's largest mall, indoor aquarium, and soon to open Museum Of The Future.

Since I only had one full day for sight-seeing I chose to start with the basics like the Dubai Frame, Etihad Museum, the Burj Khalifa rooftop view, and seeing the Palm Jumeirah from way above- but we'll get to that later.

First stop: The Dubai Frame

Inaugurated in January 2018, the Dubai Frame is one of the country's latest must-see attractions. Standing at 150.24 meters tall and 95.53 meters wide, the Dubai Frame is a 50-story gold-plated picture frame that connects the old with the new.

The frame tells the story of Dubai's past, present, and future, by offering panoramic views of the city that can be enjoyed only once visitors take a walk through the history of Dubai on their way to the top. The pace of Dubai's progress and development are overwhelming and any parent living in Dubai will say they remember three different places within their lifetime – a desert, a construction site, and the cosmopolitan city it is today (with ongoing construction).

One of the most astonishing features of the Frame is the glass sky-bridge that turns transparent when walked upon. The first few steps can make your heart skip a beat, but the experience of walking in midair, or at least the illusion of it, are surely worth it.

The Dubai Frame's panoramic views are positioned in a way that show landmarks of modern Dubai on one side, and older parts of the city on the other. All you have to do is make a 180-degree turn and you will travel back in time.

At the very end of the museum, there is a final stop- a three-minute video that shows the ambitious plans for the future. The Dubai-natives that gave me the museum tour emphasized that the future is closer than I think, since Dubai is only picking up the pace, and dreamer bigger than before. Noted!

Second stop: Burj Khalifa

The Burj Khalifa is likely the most famous landmark in Dubai, and perhaps in the entire United Arab Emirates. Considered the tallest building in the world since its topping in 2009 (828 meters), it's hard to imagine Dubai without the famous tower. The skyscraper's Atmosphere Restaurant located on the 122nd floor holds the Guinness World Record for the highest restaurant in the world- and we wouldn't expect anything less (this is after all a place known for breaking records). The restaurant and above observation deck offer a 360 view of the city with its coastline, skyscrapers and artificial aqua-colored pools below. Even an amateur iPhone-photographer like myself cannot mess up the picture-perfect view. While locals might prefer taking you to other trendy spots in the city for dinner, make sure not to miss this gem. You haven't seen anything like it.

After visiting the Burj Khalifa during the day, make sure to revisit the surrounding compound at night for the world's largest musical fountain show (we see a theme here, yes?). The fountain show is an explosion of colors and music held with a beautifully lit Burj Khalifa as its backdrop.

The fountain show is held nightly and runs every half hour from 6 p.m. until 11 p.m. Often there are special themed lightings on the tower for national and international celebrations, awareness campaigns, and special occasions – most recently being the world's biggest gender reveal. Congratulation's to Dubai-based influencers Anas and Asala Marwah- it's a boy!

Third Stop: Etihad Museum

The Etihad Museum is a place to experience the most significant and defining moment of the union (union being a translation of the word Etihad). It's the very spot where seven leaders came together for the historic signing of the United Arab Emirates Constitution. From the outside the museum looks like somewhat of a spaceship – but when taking a deeper look, it's clear the museum is shaped like a manuscript and features seven leaning columns that represent the seven Emirates- Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah.

The museum's permanent exhibition tells the story of the country's founding fathers, with a key emphasis on the years 1968-1974 around the historic signing. The museum holds everything from old passports to personal artifacts of the rulers of the United Arab Emirates

with most of the museum and its exhibitions located underground, and for good reason.

The museum complex is next to the distinctive oval-shaped Union House where the treaty establishing the UAE was signed in 1971. In order to honor the Union House and what it symbolizes, the adjacent Etihad Museum was build underground in order not to overshadow the original structure.

Museum Director Abdullah Mohammed Al-Falasi told me how a nationwide campaign was launched by the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, calling on the public to submit any historically valuable artifacts.  The campaign ultimately helped collect some of the Museums most valuable items.

Fourth Stop: The Palm Jumeirah Island

My tourist grand finale was one I could have never predicted. Just as the UAE and Israel took a leap of faith signing the historic Abraham Accords, I decided to take my own leap of faith and skydive over The Palm Jumeirah Island. I arrived at Skydive Dubai quite nervous as this was never on my personal bucket list, but knew I was doing this as a symbolic gesture, all while facing my own fears. I arrived equipped with an Israeli flag and UAE mask and was soon approached by many individuals excited to see an Israeli at the tandem skydive preparation zone. Some even asked to take pictures.

To anyone considering taking that leap, be sure to wear comfortable clothes and try not to come on a very full stomach. The most important aspect of skydiving is to free your mind and make peace with having no control. It's easier said than done, but entirely possible- take it from me. SkyDive Dubai owns the airspace above and around the Palm Jumeirah Island, and therefore the climb is done in circles, up until the 4000 meter-high jumping point is reached.

The climb up which lasts less than 15 minutes is by far the smoothest flight I've boarded, with one of the most calming views below. At 4000 meters you will receive the best view imaginable of the city and coastline, and will almost forget that you agreed to jump out of an aircraft. The true moment of bliss however comes when minute later, when the tandem instructor opens the parachute shooting you both up in the air. This is the moment you have been waiting for- a spiritual experience of ultimate Zen and stillness, taking place in mid-air. This moment is the ultimate reliever of stress and redefines relaxation. Six minutes later you are already on the ground, and if it weren't for the photographer capturing your every move mid-air, you might question whether the jump even took place. To anyone reading this, I want to emphasize that jumping from a plane is not the objective- coming to Dubai with an open mind and willingness to be transformed is.

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Dubai is a place to dream and dare, and there's no better example than that given by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai who's ambition and vision transformed the city from a desert village to the global player it is today.

Michal Divon is a New York-based Israeli journalist and TV host, currently working with News12 Networks. She holds a BA in Government, Diplomacy and Strategy from the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya.

The post A tourist for a day in Dubai appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

According to five top opinion polls, issues Americans care about most in the 2020 presidential election include healthcare, economy, immigration, national security, gun laws, and the environment among others. Foreign policy was not in the top 10 in any survey.

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If the aim of this agreement was to rekindle Trump's presidential campaign and sway the American voter, I would ask why most American TV channels, which are primarily local, don't even cover the peace deal. Are all local channels anti-Trump and looking to minimize his global achievement? Of course not. Local channels reflect the concerns of the community, the same community that cares more about their economy, the standard of living, and healthcare than a peace treaty thousands of miles away. Choosing the candidate that will best serve your community agenda typically means the area where you live, and not a region located thousands of miles away across the Atlantic.

If the peace agreement between Israel and the UAE is nothing but a political stunt – it's the most generous stunt of the decade. I mean, if it took an American election to achieve the most significant paradigm shift in the Middle East since late Egyptian President Anwar Sadat visited Jerusalem then I can't help but ask what were the past 45 presidents wasting their campaign money on up until now?

Regional forces are dramatically shifting and US elections are simply not the driving force for Middle East Peace. Having to write this seems ridiculous in itself.

I've read multiple pieces accusing President Trump of using the Abraham Accords as an election success story. Any candidate trying to get elected or re-elected as president of the United States of America will use whatever gains they possess to gain votes. If you have something better than the first peace deal in 25 years by all means use that to your advantage- any politician would.

Similar claims are made against Netanyahu who is standing trial on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust. Neither Trump nor Netanyahu have been given a grace period following the Abraham Accords. In Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's case, it is not because Israelis don't have foreign policy high on their list, but because there are more pressing domestic issues to deal with.

Israelis refer to Netanyahu as "the magician" – a term used both positively and negatively. Recent polls however indicate the opposition right-wing Yamina party is closing the gap with Netanyahu's Likud, calling the entire magic theory into question yet again.

The peace agreement between the United Arab Emirates, Israel and Bahrain is widely favored among Israelis, but it contrasts with serious dissatisfaction at home. While Israelis are eager to travel to the Gulf, let's not forget that they have been stuck at home for several weeks until recently due to a second nationwide lockdown. Ask any one of the tens of thousands of Israelis protesting across Israel and they will blame Netanyahu for miserable handling of the Pandemic. At this point Israelis are feeling so helpless, a trip to the local grocery store will suffice.

All this is to say that the Abraham Accords, amazing as they truly are, cannot erase – or even ease – domestic strife.

The biggest mockers of the new Israeli-Gulf relationship are unquestionably the Palestinians. They rejected the deal immediately and left no room to recognize their longtime Emirati ally's achievement in blocking Israel's plan to extend sovereignty to large parts of Judea and Samaria and the Jordan Valley.

Palestinians see the deal as a betrayal as it calls for normalization with Israel through the good ol' formula they grew up on "if we don't get a piece of peace, no one does." The Abraham accords aren't killig the prospects of an independent state of Palestine, the Palestinian reaction to it is.

Those who believe that Jerusalem's holy sites are in danger due to the agreement can rest assured the Hashemite custodianship of Muslim and Christian holy sites hasn't changed. The only ones threatening the city right now are extremists targeting and harassing Emirati worshippers who have come to visit the Temple Mount, Islam's third holiest site.

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The people have spoken and they love each other. It happened so instantly that is has caused some skeptics to raise eyebrows and question the authenticity of this rapprochement, but anyone who is in touch with the "other side" knows that this outspoken sympathy is genuine.

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Terms like "warm peace" and "normalization" are often used but only for lack of better description. Truth be told, the peace between Israel and the UAE isn't just warm – it's sizzling hot.

"It's like we're dating," said Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, while Chief Rabbi of the UAE Yehuda Sarna believes "Israeli tourists won't want to leave."

Emiratis are reacting similarly. Dubai-based businessman Thani AlShirawi, who co-founded the Israel-UAE Business Forum with Hassan Nahoum, says he is "on cloud nine." Emirati author Omar al-Busaidy, who attended the White House signing ceremony on Sept. 15, said he hasn't stopped smiling and "you can feel the energy everywhere."

If anything, the Abraham Accord is a peoples peace. For many Israelis – especially at a time when they face a second coronavirus-triggered lockdown that is compounded by political uncertainty and nationwide protests – this peace is a gift to be enjoyed by generations to come, one the impact of which will be felt long after the COVID and political crises have gone.

Less than a month after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed al-Nahyan, joined US President Donald Trump at the White House for the signing ceremony, dozens of partnerships have been formed between the Jewish state and the Arabian Gulf power, and list grows daily.

Israel's leading banks, Leumi and Hapoalim, sent delegations to the UAE where they signed memorandums of understanding with the National Bank of Dubai and First Abu Dhabi Bank. The agreement will allow Israeli clients to make direct transactions in the UAE without needing a third-party mediator as was necessary in the past.

Both countries' environmental protection ministers have agreed to join forces on a series of issues, including alternative energy, protecting maritime life, desert wildlife protection, and more. Since both countries are regional leaders with respect to desalination projects, establishing a joint DeserTech research center is also being seriously discussed.

According to the Dubai-based Khaleej Times Israeli and UAE tourism industries expect around 1.25 million tourists to travel between the two countries, and advanced negotiations to establish direct aviation routes and tourist visa regulations are said to be underway. Emirates Airlines catering signs MOU to set up kosher food production, and Abu Dhabi hotels are gearing up to serve kosher meals to guests.

The Abraham Accord also detalied collaboration in the fields of medicine and healthcare, primarily focused on pursuing a vaccine for COVID-19. Abu Dhabi-based G42 Healthcare company and Israel's NanoScent signed an MOU for COVID-19 screening tests, Emirati APEX National Investment company signed an agreement with Israel's Tera Group focusing on COVID-19 research, and the list goes on.

Normalization is happening across all sectors: The Abu Dhabi Film Commission and the Israel Film Fund announced plans to establish joint programs for Emirati and Israeli filmmakers; Israeli soccer player Dia Saba signed with Dubai's Al-Nasr soccer club becoming first Israeli to join the Arab league; and Israeli models recently participated in a campagin shot in the UAE. 

These all follow one of the biggest pre-peace deal sporting moments in Israel's hisotry, which saw the national anthem of the Jewish state, Hatikvah, play in Abu Dhabi after Judoka Sagi Muki won the gold medal in the the 2018 Grand Slam.

The Jewish Community in Dubai, which with 250 members is the largest in the UAE, is being embraced by both people and authorities.

Shabbat Services being held via zoom due to the pandemic led by Chief Rabbi Yehuda Sarna have hosted several Emirati officials, including UAE Minister of State for Youth Affairs Shamma Al Mazrui and UAE Ambassador to the US Yousef al Otaiba.

Services ended with a special prayer for the well-being of the government and leadership of the United Arab Emirates, mentioning by name UAE leader Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Looking at all of this, it is quite clear that the peace train has left the station. All that is left to do is to hop on.

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