GULF STATES - Normalization with Israel

Startup Nation Central’s latest data points to a deeper Gulf role in Israeli tech than the numbers alone suggest, one built on ecosystem fit, indirect investment routes, and long-term regional considerations.

That distinction becomes clearer through the perspective of Yariv Becher, vice president for business development and partnerships at Startup Nation Central. Speaking with The Media Line, Becher stressed that the available data significantly understates the level of Gulf involvement in Israeli technology.

Becher explained that the UAE’s dominant role in the data stems from its ability to invest transparently. “One is the fact that we have normalization, we have diplomatic relations, and so we can trade, and they can invest directly,” he said. By contrast, he noted that investors from Saudi Arabia are already active but typically choose indirect routes.

“There are a number of investors in Saudi Arabia that invest in Israeli tech,” Becher said. “Usually they do it either through investing in foreign VCs, mainly Americans, but also family offices that have Saudi families that have offices in other countries, either in Europe, in London, or the UAE.”

-themedialine.org, 25 January 2026

Commentary: Israel’s high-tech know-how is bridging over geopolitical hurdles. Even with Saudi Arabia not recognizing the State of Israel, Crown Prince Mohammed Bin-Salman admits there is “a creeping normalization” with Israel.

When it come to Europe, a number of states frantically seek Israel’s help through sharing their knowledge, or directly buy missile defense systems from them. “Germany is purchasing the Israeli-developed Arrow 3 missile defense system for over $6.5 billion to bolster its air defenses against long-range threats. This landmark deal, the largest in Israel’s defense history, includes supplying advanced exo-atmospheric interceptors as part of Germany’s European Sky Shield Initiative” (Google AI Overview).

Strange as it seems, Europe needs Israel more than Israel needs Europe. As far as the future is concerned, here is what we read in Deuteronomy 15:6: “For the LORD thy God blesseth thee, as he promised thee: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow; and thou shalt reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over thee.”