A historic peace deal, dubbed the Abraham Accord, has been signed between the UAE, Bahrain and Israel in Washington on Tuesday.
The signing ceremony, presided over by US President Donald Trump, took place at the White House South Lawn, with flags of all four countries displayed prominently in the background.
His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, joined Bahraini Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Abdullatif Al-Zayani in signing agreements with Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Trump.
Speaking at the White House on Tuesday, His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan thanked Israel for "for halting the annexation of the Palestinian territories”, saying the decision “reinforces our shared will to achieve a better future for generations to come.”
"We came to tell the world this is our approach. Peace is our guiding principle. Those who begin things in the right way will reap achievements."
Three documents were signed between the three countries–the Abraham Accord, the Declaration of Peace and the Treaty of Peace, Diplomatic Relations and Full Normalisation–in Arabic, Hebrew and English.
"To all of Israel's friends in the Middle East, those who join us today and those who will join us tomorrow, I say 'as-Salam Alaikum', peace unto thee, shalom,” said Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.
The deals make UAE and Bahrain the third and fourth Arab states to normalise ties with Israel.