Sheikh Mohammed swears in UAE Ambassador to Israel

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, has sworn in the country's first ambassador to israel, Mohammed Mahmoud Al-Khaja, the Dubai Media Office said on Sunday.

The ambassador vowed to respect the UAE’s constitution and laws, work sincerely to prioritise the Emirates’ interests, and keep the State secrets while performing his diplomatic tasks.

Sheikh Mohammed wished Al Khaja success in his mission, calling on the ambassador to work sincerely to strengthen the friendship and cooperation relations with Israel, and to maintain the culture of peace, coexistence and tolerance between the two nations' peoples and the peoples of the region.

The UAE's Cabinet last month approved the establishment of an embassy in Tel Aviv in israel, state media said, while Israel announced its embassy had opened in Abu Dhabi, after the UAE and Israel agreed to normalise relations in August.

Attending were a number of ministers, and senior officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Presidential Affairs.

Sheikh Mohammed received the credentials of the ambassadors of the Republic of Dominican and Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the UAE, at Qasr Al Watan Palace. In the presence of Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, Julio Simon Castanos Zouain, Ambassador of the Dominican Republic, and Afzaal Mahmood Mirza, Ambassador of Pakistan conveyed the greetings of their leaders to President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid, and expressed their happiness at representing their nations in the UAE. Sheikh Mohammed wished the new ambassadors success and assured them of the keenness of the UAE leadership and government to provide them with all tools for success in their diplomatic missions.