Israeli Startups Deepen Commercial Links With Gulf States, Study Finds

Asher Fredman: In the wake of Hamas’ October 7 massacre, trade continued, in some cases, to grow in 2024 and 2025, whereas in other cases it returned to 2023 levels. Sectors which have seen sustained growth include water, agri-food, cybersecurity, fintech, and defense.

Successful Gulf-Israel business relationships combine strategic priorities with genuine competitive advantages. While in Israel most deals have involved private companies and investors, in the GCC they have often included sovereign wealth funds or other entities with ties to the government. The most successful ventures, are those in which Israeli entities have shown a willingness to locate certain operations in the GCC country.

Published in TPS, January  21, 2026.