Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) formally signed an air service deal as part of the four bilateral agreements between the two countries following a historic treaty to normalise their relations.

"We are facilitating civil aviation. We are connecting Israel and the UAE through multiple direct flights, and Israelis will be able to go to many destinations beyond that, to the east, in Asia," said Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Israel's Transportation and Road Safety Minister Miri Regev and UAE's Minister of Economy Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri signed the agreement on the operation of air services between and beyond the territories of Israel and the UAE on October 20. 

The other agreements covered investment protection, an MOU on science and technology development as well as an agreement on the issue of visa exemptions.

"The four agreements lay the basic infrastructure for commercial cooperation and reciprocal visits between the countries. Additional agreements – the goal of which will be to realize the great existing potential – are expected in the future, not only between the countries but in the region as a whole," the statement read. 
 
The UAE delegation arrived in Israel pursuant to the signing of the historic peace agreement between Israel and the UAE on the White House lawn last month.