Israel’s ambassador to the UAE Amir Hayek holds baby and his Israeli passport, Nov. 17, 2022. (Twitter) (Twitter)
UAE-born baby gets Israeli passport

‘Historic’: Baby Born in Gulf Country Gets Israeli Passport; ‘I am a Zionist,’ Mother Says

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“Because I am a Zionist, I told my husband that I would issue the Israeli passport first, followed by the Belgian one,” the mother said.

By United with Israel Staff

The Israeli Embassy in Abu Dhabi yesterday on Thursday issued the first passport to an Israeli baby born in the United Arab Emirates, Hebrew-language Ynet News reported.

Handing the passport to the parents, Israel’s ambassador to the UAE Amir Hayek said it was an “exciting moment” for him.

Named, Mateo David, the baby was born on May 13, 2022, to Daniel Talvi, a Haifa-born Israeli citizen, and her Belgian husband Mitz Bekovens, who works at the Al-Jazeera soccer club and serves as an international player agent, according to Ynet.

Talvi said the issuing of the passport marks a “historic moment in the relations between the countries.”

“Because I am a Zionist, I told my husband that I would issue the Israeli passport first, followed by the Belgian one,” she said.

Talvi, who has been living with her husband in Abu Dhabi for the past year, told Ynet that they enjoy a good life there.

“It’s a very family-friendly place, quiet and safe. The people here are very kind and respectful,” she said.

“There is a great appreciation for Israel in the United Arab Emirates,” she added. “I am honored [by Emiratis] when I say that I am Israeli. I can be here and say that [I’m Israeli] with pride.”

Indeed, the move was welcomed by Emirati writer Hassan Sajwani, the Emirati English-language Khaleej Times reported.

Sajwani tweeted: “What a day !! I never thought this could be possible! First ever Israeli passport issued in the UAE to a baby born in the emirates thank you #AbrahamAccords…thank you President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed.”


Mateo David is not the first Israeli child born in the UAE, however, it is the first time that an Israeli passport has been issued to a baby in the Gulf state.

The first Israeli baby born on UAE soil is the daughter of Ilan Sztulman Starosta, former Consul General of Israel in Dubai. The baby, born in August 2021, was given a temporary transit certificate because it was not yet technically possible to issue passports at the embassy.