The approved plan allows for the construction of a building of up to 15 stories, housing the embassy’s offices as well as residences for the ambassador and diplomatic staff.
The Tel Aviv District Planning and Building Committee approved plans for a permanent United Arab Emirates embassy in Herzliya Pituah on Tuesday, six years after the signing of the Abraham Accords and the establishment of diplomatic relations between Israel and the UAE.
The approved plan allows for the construction of a building of up to 15 stories, housing the embassy’s offices as well as residences for the ambassador and diplomatic staff.
The approval clears the way for progress on the UAE diplomatic mission’s permanent headquarters in Israel, at a time when regional tensions are affecting relations between the two countries.
Herzliya planned as location for permanent embassy for months, mayor previously confirmed to ‘Post’
In October, The Jerusalem Post reported that the permanent embassy would be built in Herzliya, after receiving exclusive confirmation from the city’s mayor.
“We welcome the fact that the building of the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Israel will be constructed in Herzliya,” Mayor Yariv Fisher told the Post at the time.
The Israeli flag and the UAE flag seen outside the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange where UAE Ambassador to Israel Mohamed Al Khaja and Israeli President Isaac Herzog held an opening ceremony of the United Arab Emirates embassy in Tel Aviv, July 14, 2021. (credit: MIRIAM ALSTER/FLASH90)
Herzliya has long-term plans to strengthen its ties with the countries of the Abraham Accords, “as well as with other nations that we all hope will join these agreements in the near future, in areas such as education, transportation, technology, tourism, and environmental quality: particularly initiatives that will strengthen understanding and the importance of coexistence and peace in the Middle East,” Fisher added in October.
“The process of locating the land was complex and included negotiations with various parties,” the Israel Land Authority told the Post in October.
The land authority noted at the time that the request to search for a permanent location came from the Prime Minister’s Office.
Mathilda Heller contributed to this report.