DUBAI: Saudi Arabia has given the go-ahead allowing flights between Israel and the UAE to cross its airspace, a move hailed as a “tremendous breakthrough” by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Saudi state news agency SAMA reported on Wednesday all flights to and from the UAE would be permitted to use Saudi airspace, according to the aviation authority.
The decision, which the kingdom’s aviation authority said came at the request of the UAE, follows a controversial agreement last month between Abu Dhabi and Israel to normalise ties.
Saudi Arabia had previously banned flights to and from Israel from using its airspace, though since 2018 it has permitted Air India to fly over the country to Tel Aviv, which was seen at the time as a sign of secret improvement of ties between the Saudi Arabia and Israel
Earlier this week, Israel’s El Al flew through Saudi airspace carrying US and Israeli delegations from Tel Aviv to Abu Dhabi, the first official flight by an Israeli carrier over the kingdom. The return flight also used Saudi airspace.
“Flights will be cheaper and shorter, and it will lead to robust tourism and develop our economy,” Netanyahu said in a statement.