Israeli firms barred from Dubai Air Show as regional furore grows

Israeli weapons makers have been barred from one of the world’s biggest aerospace expos in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) amid rising anger in the Gulf at Israel’s Gaza offensive and an unprecedented air strike on Qatar this week.

Organisers of the Dubai Air Show, which takes place in November, sent a letter to a handful of Israeli firms informing them they would not be permitted to participate in 2025, according to a senior official who declined to be identified by name or nationality while discussing sensitive matters.

The Sept 9

attack in Doha

, which targeted the political leadership of Hamas and killed several people, outraged the Qataris – who have been trying to mediate another truce in Gaza – and leaders across the Gulf.

It also drew rare

misgivings from the US

, where President Donald Trump’s administration has generally hewed to Israel’s hawkish line.

The letter, which cited alleged shortfalls in the firms’ professional qualifications, was dated Sept 9, the day the Doha strike was carried out, the official said. But the exhibition organisers had earlier made known informally that they intended to bar Israel from the event, the official added. The news was previously reported by Israeli media.

Dubai’s government media office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Israel’s Defence Ministry said it has received “the notification from the show’s organisers” but declined to provide details. Israel Aerospace Industries deferred comment to the ministry, and Elbit Systems, another top Israeli defence firm, declined to comment.

Two other relevant Israeli firms had no immediate response.

The UK barred Israeli officials from its biggest defence trade show this week over its actions in Gaza. In June, French officials blocked off the exhibits of several Israeli weapons makers at the Paris Air Show as the Foreign Ministry said it cannot accept the promotion of weapons that can be used by Israel in Gaza on national soil.

Israeli firms, including Elbit Systems which has established a UAE unit, were allowed to participate in the International Defence Exhibition in Abu Dhabi in February and the last Dubai Air Show in 2023, which was held weeks into the Gaza war.

The UAE forged formal relations with Israel under the landmark Abraham Accords sponsored by Mr Trump during his first term. Five years on, those relations have been strained by Israel’s conduct of the 23-month-old Gaza offensive, which is ravaging the Palestinian enclave and has ignited other regional proxy wars with Iran. BLOOMBERG