Abraham Accords: UAE student and Israeli family forge lifelong friendship


Ramola Talwar Badam
  • English
  • Arabic

An Emirati student said peace and building genuine relationships are part of his goals while studying in Israel.

Mansoor Al Marzooqi became the first student from the UAE to join an Israeli college this year and said he had gained both knowledge and friendship.

To achieve peace, there must be family relationships between people
Mansoor Al Marzooqi

“The most important factor in achieving peace is people-to-people connections,” the 19-year-old said.

“It’s about brotherhood between one culture and another. To achieve peace, there must be family relationships between people.”

The Emirati is back home in the UAE after completing a term at IDC Herzliya and will return to Israel in September to continue studies in political science.

“I focused a lot on doing well in the exams because I have a goal to work hard for the name of my country,” he said.

The course has been challenging, he said, as it covers history, philosophy and communication.

The UAE student has also met officials and been invited into the homes of students.

The UAE, Bahrain and Israel signed the Abraham Accords last year in Washington. This was followed by Morocco and Sudan agreeing to normalise ties with Israel.

The Accords have opened up co-operation in trade, investment, health and tourism.

“We are enjoying the fruit of the hard work done by the government. This harvest will benefit the country and ourselves,” Mr Al Marzooqi said.

“I have been invited for Shabbat dinners and joined in cultural activities. I’m not the last (Emirati) student, there will be more coming to Israel.”

His family has a close bond with entrepreneur Patrick Assuline after they watched over the Israeli when he was seriously ill with Covid-19 during a business trip to the Emirates earlier this year.

“After my really bad experience of Covid, my wish is to share my time with others and to be helpful to populations of both countries,” Mr Assuline said from Tel Aviv.

“Mansoor’s family is my family. I consider I was reborn in Dubai.”

Emirati Mansoor Al Marzooqi (L) with his father Mohamed Al Marzooqi, Israeli businessman Patrick Assuline and his son Dimitri in Dubai. Courtesy Al Marzooqi family.
Emirati Mansoor Al Marzooqi (L) with his father Mohamed Al Marzooqi, Israeli businessman Patrick Assuline and his son Dimitri in Dubai. Courtesy Al Marzooqi family.

Mr Assuline hopes to welcome more students from the UAE, Morocco and Bahrain to Israel in the next academic year and build a team of student ambassadors.

“It is my personal decision to be involved," he said. "We are grateful to the governments but now it is people who will build peace and create prosperity.

“Intellectual and cultural exchanges touch people. This stays deep in the mind of people.”

A year after the Abraham Accords were signed, he is optimistic about the future.

“I feel we are living in a magical and historical moment,” Mr Assuline said.

“What is important is for the young leaders of tomorrow to be friends. Mansoor has opened the door and history will remember it.

“It is needed for students to understand Israel and that they are warmly welcome here so they know Israel is a friend and brother."

UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

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  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The specs: 2018 Bentley Bentayga V8

Price, base: Dh853,226

Engine: 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic

Power: 550hp @ 6,000pm

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Fuel economy, combined: 11.4L / 100km

Labour dispute

The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


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COMPANY PROFILE

Company name: Letstango.com

Started: June 2013

Founder: Alex Tchablakian

Based: Dubai

Industry: e-commerce

Initial investment: Dh10 million

Investors: Self-funded

Total customers: 300,000 unique customers every month

$1,000 award for 1,000 days on madrasa portal

Daily cash awards of $1,000 dollars will sweeten the Madrasa e-learning project by tempting more pupils to an education portal to deepen their understanding of math and sciences.

School children are required to watch an educational video each day and answer a question related to it. They then enter into a raffle draw for the $1,000 prize.

“We are targeting everyone who wants to learn. This will be $1,000 for 1,000 days so there will be a winner every day for 1,000 days,” said Sara Al Nuaimi, project manager of the Madrasa e-learning platform that was launched on Tuesday by the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, to reach Arab pupils from kindergarten to grade 12 with educational videos.  

“The objective of the Madrasa is to become the number one reference for all Arab students in the world. The 5,000 videos we have online is just the beginning, we have big ambitions. Today in the Arab world there are 50 million students. We want to reach everyone who is willing to learn.”

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Updated: August 12, 2021, 8:24 AM`