UAE advances plans for permanent 15-story embassy in Israel six years after Abraham Accords

The United Arab Emirates is moving ahead with plans for a permanent embassy complex in Herzliya, six years after normalizing diplomatic relations with Israel under the U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords.

The Tel Aviv District Planning and Building Committee has approved a plan allowing construction of a building of up to 15 stories and roughly 15,000 square meters at 9 Sapir Street in Herzliya Pituah.

The complex is intended to serve as the UAE embassy’s permanent home in Israel and will combine diplomatic offices with residential space for the ambassador and embassy staff.

Up to 20% of the approved building rights will be allocated to residences on the upper floors.

The project is planned on a site of about 2.5 dunams in Herzliya Pituah’s business district. The land is currently owned by the Herzliya municipality and is expected to be transferred to the state before being leased to the UAE.

The plan also includes a separate entrance to an underground parking garage, road improvements and additional pedestrian infrastructure around the site.

The UAE became the first Gulf state to open an embassy in Israel in July 2021, following the establishment of formal diplomatic relations in 2020.

The embassy currently operates from temporary offices in Tel Aviv and Herzliya. The newly approved plan would give the UAE a purpose-built permanent diplomatic headquarters in Israel.