Normalization without Visibility: Jewish Community Retreats from Public Life in UAE

DID Press: Financial Times field report finds that social space for Jewish residents and pro-Israel communities in the United Arab Emirates has narrowed significantly since Gaza war, signaling the end of the post-Abraham Accords “public honeymoon” and shifting normalization into a quieter, more discreet phase.

The paper notes a visible pullback by Jewish organizations from public events, alongside changes in both state sensitivities and wider social attitudes. Celebrations that once symbolized openness — including Hanukkah events staged near the Burj Khalifa — have largely disappeared, as authorities prioritize security and adopt a lower-profile approach to normalization.

According to the report, many religious and social gatherings that previously took place in major Dubai hotels have been halted at the request of officials. Mark Sievers of the American Jewish Committee in Abu Dhabi summarized the message as one of protection paired with restraint: visitors and residents are welcomed, but asked to avoid public displays. Today, the sole openly active synagogue is located inside Abu Dhabi’s Abrahamic Family House, where tight security measures are in place.

Financial Times attributes this retreat to two primary drivers. The first is heightened security concern, following the killing of Rabbi Zvi Kogan last year and fears of copy-cat attacks. The second is regional public opinion: during the Gaza conflict, UAE leaders sought to avoid becoming a target of anger across the Arab world by visibly showcasing ties with Israel.

Nonetheless, normalization has not stopped at the economic and operational level. Bilateral trade reached roughly USD 3.2 billion in 2024, regular flights continue between the two countries, and kosher restaurants and tourism services remain active.

Members of the Jewish community interviewed in the report said they still feel safer in the UAE than in many European cities, but acknowledged the emergence of a new unwritten rule: participate, invest, and live — quietly.

The analysis concludes that normalization in the UAE has entered a managed, cautious phase, less ceremonial and more functional, unfolding largely out of public view.