Special: UAE-Israel flights near take-off

Special: UAE-Israel flights near take-off

The UAE and Israel will soon sign a commercial aviation agreement to start regular flights following the normalisation of relations between the two countries.

Ofer Malka, director-general of Israel's Transportation Ministry, said the aviation deal is "more or less ready, and we will sign it in the coming days."

In addition, Malka told Army Radio that Tel Aviv will allow UAE carriers to fly over Israeli airspace en route to westward destinations.

On August 13, the UAE and Israel announced full normalisation of relations in a historic diplomatic breakthrough in order to advance peace in the Middle East. On September 15, the two countries signed a historic Araham Accord in Washington DC.

Bahrain has also normalised ties with Israel. Saudi Arabia has