By The Visit Israel Editorial Team · Last updated
Expert-guided walks through the Muslim Quarter, Al-Aqsa compound plaza, the Via Dolorosa, and the souks of the Old City. Small-group and private options available; guides include Arabic-speaking hosts through some operators.
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Luxury beachfront hotels in Tel Aviv, boutique suites in the Jerusalem Old City, and Red Sea resorts in Eilat — live rates with free cancellation on most bookings. Arabic-speaking staff available at selected properties.
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Guided diving and snorkelling excursions from Eilat into the Red Sea coral gardens — a highlight for Gulf visitors familiar with the Arabian Sea. PADI operators on-site at the Coral Beach Nature Reserve.
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The Abraham Accords signed in September 2020 between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain — followed by Morocco’s normalisation agreement in December 2020 — opened direct air connections and, more significantly, a path for Gulf citizens to experience Israel directly. Since then, Emirati, Bahraini and Moroccan visitors have arrived in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Nazareth and Eilat in growing numbers, drawn by the Red Sea diving, the shared Abrahamic heritage, the Old City of Jerusalem, and a curiosity about a country that was once entirely off the itinerary.
Israel has a large Arabic-speaking population, active mosques in every major city, a rich tradition of Arab-Israeli cuisine, and easy access to the Temple Mount / Haram al-Sharif — Islam’s third holiest site. This guide covers the specific practical questions Gulf travelers face before they fly.
UAE, Bahrain and Morocco passport holders can visit Israel for stays of up to 90 days without a traditional visa. Since January 2025, however, all visa-exempt travelers must obtain an approved ETA-IL (Electronic Travel Authorisation for Israel) before departure — this applies to Gulf nationals alongside European and North American visitors.
Apply at eta.gov.il:
Practical note: Israeli border procedures include a short security interview at the airport and potentially at the border crossing. Carry printed hotel confirmations, a return flight booking, and any relevant business correspondence if applicable. This is standard procedure for all visitors; Gulf nationals with Abraham Accords passports report it is generally smooth at Ben Gurion Airport.
See the complete ETA-IL application guide for step-by-step instructions.
Several airlines now connect the Gulf directly to Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport (TLV):
| Route | Main carriers | Approx. flight time |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai (DXB/DWC) → Tel Aviv (TLV) | El Al, FlyDubai, Air Arabia | ~3h 15m |
| Abu Dhabi (AUH) → Tel Aviv | Etihad, El Al | ~3h 30m |
| Casablanca (CMN) → Tel Aviv | Royal Air Maroc, El Al | ~4h |
| Doha (DOH) → Tel Aviv | Check current status | ~3h |
Etihad frequency note: As of June 2026, Etihad operates up to 6 daily flights between Abu Dhabi (AUH) and Tel Aviv (TLV) — around 42 weekly departures, making it one of Etihad’s most-served routes globally. UAE-based travelers have departure options throughout the day; check etihad.com for current timetables and book in advance around Israeli holidays (see the Jewish holiday calendar) when demand peaks.
Schedules and frequencies change — verify with your airline or travel agent before booking. Ben Gurion Airport is Israel’s main international gateway, 20 km east of Tel Aviv with a fast train link to the city centre.
Arabic is an official language of Israel. Around 20% of the Israeli population are Arab citizens — predominantly Muslim, with Christian and Druze communities. In practical terms:
You will not struggle to communicate as an Arabic speaker in Israel’s major tourist areas.
The Temple Mount / Haram al-Sharif compound in the Old City of Jerusalem is one of the most significant destinations in the world for Muslim visitors. The compound contains the Al-Aqsa Mosque (the grey-domed mosque), the Dome of the Rock (the gold-domed shrine over the Foundation Stone), and the surrounding esplanade — one of Islam’s most revered spaces.
For Muslim visitors: you may enter the compound through multiple gates for prayer during open hours. The Al-Aqsa Mosque and Dome of the Rock interiors are accessible to Muslim worshippers.
For non-Muslim visitors: limited access to the compound plaza only, via the Mughrabi Gate (adjacent to the Western Wall plaza), during restricted visitor hours — typically Sunday through Thursday, approximately 07:30–11:00 and 13:30–14:30. Interiors of the mosque and Dome of the Rock are not accessible to non-Muslims. Access hours and availability change frequently with prayer schedules, religious calendar dates and security conditions.
How to get there: from Jaffa Gate, walk through the Old City toward the Western Wall plaza; the Mughrabi Gate ramp ascends from the southern end of the plaza. From Lion’s Gate (the main Muslim Quarter entrance), walk down Al-Wad Street into the Muslim Quarter — about a 10-minute walk to the compound’s northern gates.
Important honesty note: access to the compound can be restricted or suspended without notice by the Islamic Waqf (the administering authority), by Israeli security decisions, or during high-attendance Muslim religious events such as Ramadan’s final days or Eid al-Adha. Always verify current access arrangements before visiting — check with your hotel, with the Waqf, or with your tour guide.
Israel does not have a nationally unified halal-certification body comparable to the Gulf standards, but reliable halal food is widely available in Arab-Israeli areas. The best approach:
Most reliable halal areas:
Note on ‘kosher’ vs ‘halal’: kosher and halal share some principles (pork prohibition; specific animal slaughter requirements) but are not the same certification. A restaurant carrying a kosher certificate may serve food that does not meet halal standards in other respects. In mainstream Israeli (Jewish-Israeli) restaurants, always ask directly about halal status — do not assume kosher means halal. In Arab-Israeli restaurants, the community standard is halal practice even without formal certification; for formal certification, ask the restaurant directly.
International hotel chains in Tel Aviv (Sheraton, Marriott, Dan, David Kempinski) and Jerusalem (King David, Waldorf Astoria, Mamilla) can frequently arrange halal-certified options on request — confirm at booking.
Mosques operate in every major Israeli city:
Prayer times align with the standard Islamic timetable calculated from Mecca; apps such as Muslim Pro function normally in Israel with location services enabled. The qibla direction from Israel points approximately south-southwest toward Mecca.
Israel uses the New Israeli Shekel (₪ / NIS). Current exchange rates: check your bank or XE.com before travel.
UAE dirhams and Bahraini dinars are not accepted at Israeli merchants; exchange into USD or EUR if you prefer to avoid unfamiliar currencies, or withdraw NIS from airport ATMs on arrival.
Israel drives on the right (same as the UAE and Morocco). UAE and Bahrain driving licences are valid in Israel when accompanied by an International Driving Permit (IDP). Car rental at Ben Gurion Airport is available from all major international agencies. Road quality is high; tolls apply on Route 6 (the main north-south highway) — a rental car transponder is the simplest solution. GPS navigation works well; Waze is the dominant navigation app in Israel.
Israel uses 230V / 50Hz with Type H sockets (three flat pins in a Y-shape, unique to Israel), though most modern Israeli sockets also accept Type C two-pin plugs. UAE appliances (220-240V) are voltage-compatible; you need only a plug adapter.
Israel has full 4G/5G coverage across all major cities. Israeli SIM cards are available at Ben Gurion arrivals or at convenience stores. The Israel eSIM guide covers international eSIM options for Gulf travelers who prefer not to swap SIMs.
Gulf travelers report the following as particular highlights:
Jerusalem — the spiritual core: the Old City contains the Al-Aqsa Mosque / Haram al-Sharif, the Dome of the Rock, the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Via Dolorosa, and the ancient suqs that have served pilgrims of all three Abrahamic faiths for centuries. A minimum of two full days in Jerusalem is recommended.
Nazareth: Israel’s largest Arab city is a living Arabic cultural centre with extraordinary food and a warm welcome for Gulf visitors. The Basilica of the Annunciation and the Old City suqs are both worth a full morning. See the Nazareth travel guide for detail.
Akko (Acre): an Ottoman and Crusader coastal city with a stunning Arab old city, a large active Friday mosque, excellent seafood restaurants and easy day-trip access from Haifa. See the Akko travel guide for more.
Tel Aviv beaches and nightlife: Israel’s Mediterranean coastal city is a stark contrast to Jerusalem — secular, beach-focused, internationally diverse, with a restaurant scene that ranges from Arabic-Israeli fusion to fine dining. The Tel Aviv day itinerary covers the city’s main areas.
Eilat and the Red Sea: Eilat is Israel’s southernmost city on the Red Sea — the same body of water as Aqaba in Jordan and Taba in Egypt. The coral reefs at Eilat’s Coral Beach Nature Reserve are accessible by snorkel or scuba; PADI dive centres operate at the beach. Gulf visitors familiar with Red Sea diving report Israeli Red Sea sites as excellent. See the Eilat guide for accommodation and logistics.
The Galilee and Sea of Galilee: the northern region combines Christian pilgrimage sites (Capernaum, Tabgha, Nazareth) with Israeli nature reserves, Druze villages, and the shores of the freshwater Sea of Galilee — Lake Tiberias / Kinneret.
Israel is a religiously and culturally diverse country. Practical guidance:
From Israel, the following cross-border options are popular with Gulf travelers already in the region:
Citizens of the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco can visit Israel without a traditional visa for stays of up to 90 days under existing bilateral or Abraham Accords-adjacent arrangements. However, since January 2025, all visa-exempt travelers — including UAE, Bahrain and Moroccan passport holders — must obtain an approved ETA-IL (Electronic Travel Authorisation for Israel) before departure. Apply online at eta.gov.il — the process takes a few minutes, costs approximately ₪25, and approval is typically granted within minutes to a few hours. The ETA-IL is linked to your passport electronically; verify current eligibility with your airline and the Israeli Ministry of Interior before booking, as entry policy can evolve.
Yes. El Al, FlyDubai, Etihad and Air Arabia operate routes linking Tel Aviv Ben Gurion (TLV) to Dubai (DXB/DWC), Abu Dhabi (AUH) and other Gulf cities. Flight time from Dubai to Tel Aviv is approximately 3 hours 15 minutes; Abu Dhabi to Tel Aviv approximately 3 hours 30 minutes. Etihad significantly expanded its AUH-TLV service in 2026 and now operates up to 6 daily flights (42 weekly departures), giving UAE travelers from Abu Dhabi a wide choice of departure times. Royal Air Maroc connects Casablanca (CMN) to TLV, making Morocco one of the more accessible North African entry points. As schedules change, verify current frequencies directly with airlines or your travel agent before booking.
The Temple Mount / Haram al-Sharif compound in Jerusalem's Old City is Islam's third holiest site. Non-Muslim tourists may enter the compound plaza during restricted visitor hours (typically Sunday–Thursday, approximately 07:30–11:00 and 13:30–14:30 — but NOT during or immediately before prayer times). Entry for non-Muslim visitors is via the Mughrabi Gate only. Muslim visitors may enter through multiple gates for prayer at all times the compound is open to worshippers. Access hours, gate rules and compound closures change regularly depending on religious calendar dates, security conditions and Waqf decisions — always verify current arrangements with the Islamic Waqf Jerusalem (the administering authority) before your visit. The Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock interiors are NOT accessible to non-Muslims.
Halal-certified food is widely available in Arab-Israeli neighborhoods and cities, though the formal certification landscape in Israel is less standardised than in the Gulf countries. The most reliable areas: the Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem's Old City (excellent hummus, falafel, maqluba, knafeh, Arabic sweets and full mezze restaurants); Nazareth (Israel's largest Arab city — vibrant restaurant scene featuring mansaf, shawarma, freekeh dishes); Jaffa Arab Quarter (south of Tel Aviv port — Arabic cafes and restaurants); Wadi Nisnas in Haifa (Arab cultural neighborhood with bakeries and restaurants); Akko Old City (Al-Jazzar area restaurants and market stalls). Outside Arab neighborhoods, be aware that in mainstream Israeli restaurants 'kosher' does not mean 'halal' — both prohibit pork and share certain animal slaughter principles, but they are not interchangeable certifications. Always confirm with the restaurant directly. Major international hotel chains in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem can often arrange halal meals on request — ask when booking.
Arabic is an official language of Israel alongside Hebrew and English. Around 20% of Israeli citizens are Arab — the majority Muslim, with Christian and Druze communities as well. In practical terms, this means: Arabic-speaking taxi drivers are common in Jerusalem and mixed cities; Arabic is on all official road signs alongside Hebrew and English; the Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem is primarily Arabic-speaking; Nazareth, Akko, Jaffa, Haifa (Wadi Nisnas) and Beer Sheva all have Arabic-speaking commercial areas. You will have no difficulty communicating in Arabic in the major tourist areas and in any Arab-Israeli neighborhood. In Tel Aviv commercial districts, English is often more widely spoken than Arabic, though Israeli-Arab hospitality businesses frequently have Arabic-speaking staff.
Check your government's current travel advisory before booking. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (mofa.gov.ae) and Bahrain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issue region-specific guidance. Morocco's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (maec.gov.ma) also maintains advisories. As of 2026, the main tourist areas — Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, the Galilee, the Dead Sea and Eilat — are generally accessible to international visitors; the Gaza border zone and parts of the northern border area carry elevated risk. Gulf nationals travelling to Israel should note that carrying an Israeli stamp in their passport has no practical implications for re-entry to UAE or Bahrain post-Abraham Accords, but should confirm this with their own government before travel.
Israel uses the New Israeli Shekel (₪ / NIS). ATMs are widely available in all tourist areas — most accept international Visa, Mastercard and UnionPay cards. Credit card acceptance is near-universal in hotels, restaurants and shops. Contactless (NFC) payment including Apple Pay and Google Pay works at most Israeli payment terminals. Cash is useful for markets, small stalls and tipping. UAE dirhams and Bahraini dinars are not accepted as payment in Israel; exchange USD or EUR at airport bureaux or bank branches on arrival. No black-market currency issue: official exchange rates are fair.
Ramadan is observed by Israel's Muslim community — approximately 20% of the population — and the atmosphere in Muslim neighborhoods changes significantly during the holy month. The Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem, Nazareth, Jaffa and Akko have a distinct Ramadan rhythm: many Muslim-owned restaurants adjust to iftar hours (opening at sunset), some businesses have shorter daytime hours, and the late-evening Ramadan atmosphere in the Muslim Quarter is vibrant. The Al-Aqsa / Haram al-Sharif compound sees significantly increased attendance during Ramadan — non-Muslim visitor access may be restricted or suspended during peak prayer periods and the final days of the month; confirm before visiting. Jewish and secular areas (West Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Eilat) operate normally throughout Ramadan.
By The Visit Israel Editorial Team · Last updated