Flydubai launches first Dubai-Tel Aviv flight

On Thursday, budget airline flydubai launched direct flights to Tel Aviv, the first scheduled commercial service between the two cities, following the normalization of ties between the UAE and Israel.

"PM Netanyahu will attend this morning the welcoming ceremony for the first @flydubai commercial flight that will arrive at Ben-Gurion International Airport," Ofir Gendelman said in a tweet.

"These are the fruits of peace. Dear Emirati tourists, welcome to Israel!"

In September, the United Arab Emirates signed a landmark US-brokered deal to formalize relations with Israel, the first such agreement by an Arab state in the Gulf.

With their economies hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic, the UAE and Israel are hoping for rapid dividends from the normalization deal, including an influx of tourists as Dubai enters its winter high season.

"The start of scheduled flights will contribute to economic development and create further investment opportunities," flydubai CEO Ghaith al-Ghaith said when the service was announced earlier this month.