Israel-UAE sign health cooperation deal, work on vaccine recognition

The deal is expected to encourage the exchange of experts and the development of joint projects between the two nations, as well as direct collaborations between medical institutions.

By ROSSELLA TERCATIN
Health Minister Yuli Edelstein is seen with a signed agreement with the UAE for medical cooperation. (photo credit: HEALTH MINISTRY)
Health Minister Yuli Edelstein is seen with a signed agreement with the UAE for medical cooperation.
(photo credit: HEALTH MINISTRY)
Israel and the United Arab Emirates have signed an agreement for extensive cooperation in the health sector, Health Minister Yuli Edelstein announced on Wednesday, as Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi revealed that the two countries are working on mutual vaccine recognition to allow tourism and business exchange to resume.
The collaboration between Israel and the UAE in the health sector will range from the fight against global pandemics to medical education, including the fields of digital medicine, protection of medical data, use of artificial intelligence, new technologies and public health.
The move is expected to encourage the exchange of experts and the development of joint projects between the two nations, as well as direct collaborations between medical institutions.
“The agreement with the United Arab Emirates will strengthen Israel’s health system,” Edelstein said. “We have what to offer and what to receive. This is one of the most important collaborations.”
“In the coming years, the cooperation will bear fruit for the citizens of Israel in the best possible way,” he said. “I thank the employees of the Health Ministry and the Foreign Ministry for their hard work that helped formulate the agreement.”
The agreement was signed by Edelstein and UAE Health Authority head Yusuf Muhammad Elsarkel in the presence of UAE Health Minister Abdul Rahman Bin Mohammed Al Owais.
The ceremony was attended by the director of the Health Ministry’s Department of International Relations, Dr. Ashi Shalmon, Israel’s Ambassador in Abu Dhabi, Eitan Na’eh, and Special Envoy to the Gulf countries Zvi Hefetz.
Since the normalization of their relationship through the Abraham Accords last year, Israel and the United Arab Emirates have forged several deals in various fields, including the commercial and the aviation sectors. A taxation treaty is currently being negotiated. The business communities of both countries are working closely together. When tourism between the two nations has been permitted, Israeli visitors have flocked to Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
“The cooperation agreement on health between Israel and the United Arab Emirates is another important step in advancing the peace agreements between the two countries and in tackling the coronavirus crisis,” Ashkenazi said ahead of the ceremony.
“We are also working on an agreement with the Emirates in order to recognize our coronavirus vaccines, which will allow tourists from both sides to visit Israel and the UAE, and businesspeople to develop trade and investment ties,” he said.

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At the moment, Israel does not recognize vaccination certificates from other nations, and its borders are still closed to foreign nationals – with limited exceptions – but the country will allow in  vaccinated tourists traveling with groups starting from May 23.


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