Once unthinkable, cargo from Dubai arrives in Haifa
Just a few months ago, such a journey from Dubai's Jebel Ali port to the northern Israeli port city of Haifa would have been unthinkable.
The countries announced a normalisation deal in August which laid the ground for a potentially profitable new trade route.
The diplomatic breakthrough stemmed from a strategic realignment of Middle East nations, in particular Israel and Gulf Arab nations led by Sunni rulers, who face what they perceive as a shared threat from Iran.
But it is also grounded in economics and potential collaborations in the fields of business, investment and technology.
Israeli officials have estimated bilateral trade could reach as much as $4 billion a year - and nearly all goods will have to travel by sea.
"This is very exciting," said Eshel Armony, chairman of the board at Haifa Port.
