Gulf Haven Tested: Jewish Life in the UAE Shaken by Regional Wars
A chain of regional wars and domestic threats following the October 7 attacks has severely tested the security and visibility of Israelis and Jews living in the United Arab Emirates, ending a brief golden age of open community life.
When Tamar Shmulovitz moved from Israel to the United Arab Emirates following the normalization agreements between the two countries six years ago, it marked the beginning of a fresh chapter in a place she never imagined calling home. Her husband was recruited for an information technology role by the government in the port city of Ras al-Khaimah. Upon their arrival in the summer, their daughters, then aged 5 and 8, quickly turned the local pool into their second home.
The children enrolled in a school with an English-language curriculum, and Shmulovitz herself befriended mothers from backgrounds, religions, and nationalities rarely encountered in Israel. "It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," she recounted. "We were welcomed with open arms and felt safe from the very first moment." However, according to an extensive report by The New York Times, a chain of regional wars and domestic threats is now severely testing the security of Israelis and Jews in the wealthy Gulf powerhouse.
Living in the Shadow of Fear and Concecretion
Today, Jewish life in the UAE has grown quieter and far less visible than before. Religious symbols have vanished from the public landscape, and gatherings have shifted to private homes. Many have become more cautious regarding their social media presence and willingness to speak with the media. Some are reconsidering how open they can be about their Israeli or Jewish identity, while others debate whether they can continue building their lives in a country once considered a safe haven.
This dramatic shift, notes The New York Times reporters, began with the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which claimed the lives of over 1,200 people, and with Israel's destructive war in Gaza. As Israel expanded its military campaigns across the Middle East, international condemnation mounted, and Israelis found themselves increasingly isolated. The situation worsened in 2024 when an Israeli rabbi was abducted and murdered in the UAE. Three Uzbek nationals were initially arrested on suspicion of involvement, and three individuals were later sentenced to death with a fourth receiving a prison term, though authorities did not disclose the identities of those convicted.
The Israeli strike on Iran in 2025, carried out in coordination with the United States, and the renewed war involving the US and Israel against Tehran in 2026, brought the conflict to the doorstep of the Emirates. This year, Iran fired barrages of missiles and drones toward the UAE, hitting several sites including airports and hotels. For Israeli and Jewish residents, the country where they live was not only under attack, but Israeli officials also warned that Iran might specifically target them.
The Airline Incident and the End of Euphoria
A month ago, a sense of anxiety escalated further following the thwarted attempt to down a passenger airliner on the Dubai-Tel Aviv route in a suicide mission inspired by the September 11 attacks. The low-cost carrier flydubai had long been a major operator on the Dubai-Tel Aviv route, running up to ten daily flights. Together, these events have cracked the UAE's image as a place where Jews can live openly and securely. The Israeli and Jewish community reports that some residents have already chosen to leave. Many others, like Shmulovitz and her family, have stayed but learned to navigate their lives with extreme caution.
"This is a moment of awakening," noted Rabbi Yehuda Sarna, who previously served as the chief rabbi of the Jewish Council of the Emirates and currently lectures at New York University Abu Dhabi. The golden age of the Jewish community in the UAE was extraordinary. For years, Israelis and Jews with foreign passports arrived in the country. A small network took shape and even rented a villa used as a synagogue. Following the Abraham Accords in 2020, UAE officials embraced the community's growth, pledged to protect it, and even integrated Holocaust education into school curricula.
Disappearance from the Public Sphere
The October 7 attack upended the paradigm. Since then, Israelis have kept a low profile, often encouraged by local officials. Restaurants and cafes removed signs advertising kosher food and erased their presence from social media. At one kosher grocery store, shutters were pulled down, and a security guard at the entrance even photographed shoppers' passports. Outside a Jewish kindergarten, guards wearing sunglasses were stationed alongside a police vehicle. Community leaders noted that Israeli entrepreneurs seeking investments in Dubai have become cautious regarding revealing their identity, and many residents removed the mezuzot from their doorposts.
Despite the tense new reality, some still prefer the UAE. Or Eliaz, a young entrepreneur, moved to Dubai precisely as others began leaving. Given the economic and security situation in Israel, he felt his homeland was not the right place for him, even though he lost a friend in the Hamas attack and his cousin was kidnapped and later released. He established a marketing content and podcast production company, and his immediate family joined him in the Emirates. Eliaz admits it is not always clear to him what his colleagues from Iran or Pakistan think of him, but for him, it is a worthwhile compromise. "I feel much safer living my life here than in Israel," he declares. For now, the Jewish and Israeli community in the UAE anxiously monitors the evolving war against Iran and regional events, unable to know what tomorrow will bring.
