In the first half of 2025, numerous developments related to the Abraham Accords demonstrated the continued resilience of these historic agreements, despite regional challenges stemming from Hamas’ October 7 terror attack.
Prominent intergovernmental meetings between senior Israeli and Emirati officials, including multiple visits by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar to the UAE and a bilateral customs cooperation agreement ratified in April, highlighted the sustained effort to strengthen economic and diplomatic relations. Relations with Morocco advanced notably as well, exemplified by the ratification of a bilateral maritime transport agreement.
Additionally, U.S. diplomatic engagement remained robust, with President Trump publicly expressing optimism regarding additional countries joining the Accords. Though the pace of developments has moderated amid geopolitical tensions, the steady dialogue and concrete progress achieved underscore the continuing vitality and future promise of the Abraham Accords.
Timeline of Developments
January 7
Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, received Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar in Abu Dhabi. The two discussed bilateral relations and efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza. The Emirati Foreign Minister called for “intensified international efforts to combat extremism, hatred, and racism while promoting the values of tolerance, coexistence, and human fraternity.”
January 16
Over 40 Members of Congress wrote a letter to President Trump urging him to “to nominate a Presidential Envoy for the Abraham Accords, Negev Forum, and Related Integration and Normalization Fora and Agreements.”
January 21
Aryeh Deri, Chairman of Israel’s ultra-Orthodox Shas political party, visited the UAE as the official guest of UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, for discussions on the future of Gaza and UAE-Israel relations.
February 10
According to media reports, the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces signed a major contract to purchase 36 artillery systems from Israel’s Elbit Systems.
February 13
The U.S.-India Joint Leaders Statement released following President Trump’s meeting with Indian Prime Minister Modi declared: “The leaders plan to convene partners from the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor and the I2U2 Group within the next six months in order to announce new initiatives in 2025.”
February 17
Speaker of the Israeli Knesset MK Amir Ohana hosted Dr. Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee of the UAE Federal National Council, for an official meeting at the Knesset.
February 19
The Israel–Premier Tech cycling team participated in the UAE Cycling Tour for the sixth time, demonstrating the power of sport to bridge divides.
February 23
Israeli Minister of Transportation Miri Regev visited Morocco, where she met her Moroccan counterpart and participated in an international conference on road safety.
February 28
EU President von der Leyen, during the visit of the EU College of Commissioners to India, declared; “The India-Middle East-Europe corridor is a historic opportunity… with an electricity cable and a clean hydrogen pipeline…it is a green and digital bridge across continents and civilizations.”
April 7
UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan hosted Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar for the second time this year in Abu Dhabi. The two discussed the growing UAE-Israel bilateral relations, the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and efforts to achieve a ceasefire and secure the release of the Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
April 15
The UAE and Israel ratified a bilateral Agreement on Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in Customs Matters, expected to further boost economic ties between the countries.
April 25
President Trump, in an interview with Time magazine, expressed optimism about expanding the Abraham Accords, stating: “I think Saudi Arabia will go into the Abraham Accords.”
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau met with Bahraini Minister of Finance and National Economy Sheikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa in Washington, D.C. and expressed appreciation for Bahrain’s commitment to the Abraham Accords.
May 8
The Israeli Government ratified a bilateral maritime agreement with Morocco. Originally signed in Rabat in May 2023, the key purpose of the agreement is to regulate and promote maritime transport between the two countries based on principles of free and fair competition, freedom of navigation, and cooperation.
May 12-15
The IDF held joint exercises with Morocco’s Royal Moroccan Armed Forces during the annual African Lion 2025 military exercise. African Lion is U.S. Africa Command’s largest joint, all-domain, multi-component, and multi-national annual exercise.
May 13-16
President Trump visited Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE. In his address to the Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum, President Trump stated: “It’s my fervent hope, wish and even my dream that Saudi Arabia… will soon be joining the Abraham Accords...But you’ll do it in your own time.”
May 21
The Israeli and Emirati foreign ministers held a phone call to discuss cooperation and the entry of Emirati aid to Gaza.
Following the murder of two Israeli Embassy staff members in Washington D.C., the UAE and Bahrain issued strong condemnations of the attack and expressed their condolences to the Israeli Embassy.
June 4
Lawmakers from more than 30 countries came together for the third meeting of the Abraham Accords Interparliamentary Strategic Dialogue, which focused on energy-related issues. The event, hosted by AIPAC and the European Jewish Association, included Abraham Accords Caucus co-chairs Sens. James Lankford (R-OK) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV), and Reps. Brad Schneider (D-IL) and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), as well as parliamentarians from Israel, Morocco, Jordan, Azerbaijan, Greece, Cyprus, Japan, Paraguay, Bahrain and a range of EU countries.
According to numbers published by the Israeli Defense Ministry, sales to Abraham Accords countries constituted 12% of all Israeli defense sales in 2024. This is up from 3% in 2023, but down from 24% in 2022.
June 15-20
A U.S. congressional delegation led by Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL), co-chair of the Abraham Accords Caucus, visited Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates, and spoke with senior Israeli officials, in order to express U.S. support for regional integration and cooperation.
June 24
Israel’s National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi confirmed “daily direct talks” with Syria and exploratory contacts with Lebanon, and labeled both “candidates for the Abraham Accords.”
June 25
U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff stated: “We think we will have big announcements on countries that are coming into the Abraham Accords.”
June 26
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu declared: “We fought valiantly against Iran—and achieved a great victory…This victory opens up an opportunity for a dramatic expansion of the peace agreements. We are working hard on this.”
June 29
President Trump told a Fox News interview: “We have some really great countries in [the Abraham Accords] right now, and I think we're going to start loading them up, because Iran was the primary problem…”
