Israel's police commissioner in Dubai for second visit this year to meet UAE officials

Israel's police commissioner, Yaackov Shabatai, is in Dubai on a formal visit to meet with his UAE counterpart and various government officials.

A police statement said the commissioner will discuss with UAE officials the "mutual fight against organised crime and terror" with Dror Assaraf, head of Interpol Israel, also accompanying Shabatai.  

Police Commissioner Shabtai held his first official visit to the UAE last February to foster closer security ties between the two countries. 

An Israeli police official was appointed earlier this year to a permanent position at the Israeli embassy in Abu Dhabi, handling all police activity in the UAE, Africa, and the Middle East.

Yaakov Shabtai announced he will end his term as commissioner in January.

The announcement followed tensions between Shabtai and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who oversees the police force and border police.

Israel and the UAE normalised relations in 2020 with the so-called Abraham Accords, with Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan following suit - a hugely controversial in the Arab world, sparking a backlash.