An Israeli delegation made its first publicly announced visit to Saudi Arabia to attend a UNESCO meeting in Riyadh, sparking speculation about potential normalization of ties between the two nations. The five-member delegation arrived in Saudi Arabia via Dubai, as there are no direct flights between Israel and Saudi Arabia. They obtained their visas through UNESCO.
During the meeting, the delegation sat behind a sign that read “Israel” on their desk, drawing attention from Saudis present at the event.
While the visit itself may not have immediate political implications, it occurs amid rumors of efforts to bring Saudi Arabia and Israel closer together. Reports suggest that a Palestinian delegation visited Riyadh to discuss the future if Saudi Arabia were to formalize relations with Israel.
Saudi Arabia, home to two of Islam’s holiest sites, does not officially recognize Israel and did not participate in the 2020 US-brokered Abraham Accords that led to Israel establishing diplomatic ties with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.
Saudi Arabia has recently made notable diplomatic moves, including a surprising rapprochement with Iran after an eight-year break in relations. The visit by the Israeli delegation, coordinated by UNESCO, is seen as a sign that Saudi Arabia is becoming more open to the world, including Israelis, but not necessarily indicative of a full-fledged bilateral relationship between the two countries.
Saudi Arabia’s efforts to transform into a global business and tourism hub under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 reform agenda have led the country to be more inclusive in its approach. Israelis may portray this visit as a significant step, but UNESCO facilitated it, and the path to normalization still faces obstacles.
Analysts have compared this visit to a previous one by Israeli eSports players during the Gamers8 festival, both requiring third-party coordination by global organizers.
