Abraham Accords Peace Institute’s 2022 Annual Report Reveals New Data About Accords’ Successes and Obstacles

WASHINGTON, D.C – The Abraham Accords Peace Institute (AAPI), a non-partisan non-profit US organization, released its 2022 Annual Report, the most comprehensive and in-depth report published to date examining the development of relations among the countries of the Abraham Accords. The report examines the evolution of multilateral and bilateral diplomatic, economic, investment, tourism and people-to-people ties among Israel, UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan, Egypt, Jordan and Kosovo, as well as the critical role of the United States and other international partners.  It assesses the development of ties to date between Israel and the UAE as ‘Strong’, between Israel and Bahrain, Morocco, Egypt, Jordan and Kosovo as ‘Fair’, and with Sudan as ‘Tenuous’. 

In addition to analyzing progress to date, the report highlights opportunities to leverage the Accords for strengthening regional stability, economic prosperity, food security and energy resilience, while emphasizing the importance of active US bipartisan support, and the potential for expanded partnerships with Europe and Asia. It also identifies obstacles and gaps in the development of Accords ties since 2020, and provides recommendations for overcoming them.

In 2023, AAPI priorities will include realizing opportunities for increased tourism, delegations and academic exchange, identifying options for Accords members to help alleviate European energy challenges, advancing multilateral agricultural projects to address food security threats, particularly in Sudan, promoting the development of infrastructure necessary for regional overland trade, accelerating cooperation on water security, and developing an Abraham Accords Innovation Network to create synergies between start-up ecosystems. 

The Abraham Accords Peace Institute’s 2022 Annual Report, the most comprehensive and in-depth report published to date on Abraham Accords progress, reveals:

• Total trade between Israel and regional peace partners reached $3.47 Billion in 2022, up from $1.905 Billion in 2021 and $593 million in 2019.
• Outbound Israeli tourism to Abraham Accords countries grew from 39,300 in 2019 to 470,700 in 2022. Israeli tourism contributed an estimated $325 million to the UAE economy in 2022 alone
• Regional connectivity- 17 new flight routes have been established between Israel and regional partners.
• Abraham Accords retain strong bi-partisan consensus in US and enjoy growing support across Europe.
• Areas with significant unrealized potential include incoming tourism to Israel, expanded people-to-people ties, overland regional trade.

Rob Greenway, President and Executive Director of AAPI: “The Abraham Accords’ progress this past year demonstrates the commitment of its members, the potential of their collaboration, and the vital contributions which the historic agreements have made towards economic prosperity and regional stability. Institutionalizing Abraham Accords relations on a multilateral basis, such as through the Negev Forum, a regional Tourism Council, or a future Abraham Accords Free Trade Zone, is critical for realizing the full benefits of the Accords and encouraging their expansion.”

Mr. Greenway added: “The United States brokered the Abraham Accords, and continued US support for the Accords is critical for the continued deepening and expansion of the Accords.”

He further noted: “In 2022, AAPI worked with a growing constellation of partners to ensure that the agreements continue to reach their full potential by demonstrably improving the lives of signatory countries’ citizens. In the coming year, we will pursue efforts at the intersection of Accords member priorities, emerging opportunities, and potential impact, as well as initiatives designed to reduce residual risk to the Accords and their expansion.”

READ FULL REPORT.

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Background:

The Abraham Accords Peace Institute is a non-partisan, non-profit U.S. organization dedicated to supporting the implementation and expansion of the historic Abraham Accords peace agreements. The mission of the Institute is to strengthen the new bonds created through the Abraham Accords, and ensure that these relationships achieve their fullest potential. The Institute is the primary platform for disseminating the progress made through the Accords, and for the development of new growth opportunities by convening and leveraging public and private sector entities for discussion, planning, and cooperation. Its focus is on deepening trade, investment, tourism and people-to-people ties among AA members, and on expanding the circle of countries which are part of the Accords.

For more information, contact AAPI Director for Israel, Asher Fredman at afredman@aapeaceinstitute.org