Israeli and Somaliland Ambassadors Yossi Shelley and Masoud Abdi Ali met in Abu Dhabi to expand economic cooperation after Israel’s recognition of Somaliland
ABU DHABI — Israel’s ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Yossi Shelley, met with Somaliland’s ambassador to the UAE, Masoud Abdi Ali, for talks on expanding economic cooperation and strengthening ties between the two sides following Israel’s recognition of Somaliland.
The meeting, held in Abu Dhabi, comes as Somaliland seeks to translate Israel’s December 2025 recognition into broader diplomatic and economic engagement. Israel’s decision made it the first country to formally recognize Somaliland as a sovereign and independent state, according to the two diplomats.
Ali said the discussions focused on strengthening relations and identifying opportunities for closer cooperation.
“I had a productive and constructive discussion this morning with H.E. Yossi Avraham, Ambassador of the State of #Israel to the UAE,” Ali wrote on X. “We exchanged views on strengthening bilateral relations and explored opportunities to deepen cooperation between our two countries and peoples.”
Shelley offered a broader assessment, framing the encounter as part of an emerging bilateral relationship with economic and regional implications.
“Today, I had the honor of hosting the Ambassador of the Republic of Somaliland, Masoud Abdi Ali,” Shelley wrote on X. He said the two sides discussed the “vast potential” of their new bilateral relations, with particular emphasis on economic cooperation.
Shelley also highlighted Israel’s decision to recognize Somaliland, describing it as a historic step and noting that Israel was the first country to recognize Somaliland as a sovereign and independent state.
According to Shelley, Ali expressed his appreciation for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision and invited the Israeli ambassador to visit Somaliland.
“I hope that more countries will follow Israel’s lead and join in recognizing Somaliland as a sovereign and independent state,” Shelley wrote.
The meeting underscores Somaliland’s effort to use its expanding diplomatic engagement with Israel to deepen ties beyond the two countries’ bilateral relationship. The UAE, where both ambassadors are based, provides an important commercial and diplomatic setting for those discussions.
For Somaliland, economic cooperation is likely to remain a central component of its diplomatic strategy as it seeks greater international recognition and investment. The territory has sought to position the Port of Berbera and its wider Gulf of Aden location as gateways for trade between the Horn of Africa and global markets.
The talks also come against a backdrop of growing strategic competition around the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, where maritime security, logistics and regional partnerships have become increasingly important to Israel, the UAE and other external powers.
Shelley’s call for other countries to follow Israel’s example signals that Jerusalem intends to make Somaliland’s recognition part of a broader diplomatic agenda. Whether that appeal produces additional recognitions, however, will depend on how governments weigh Somaliland’s claims against Somalia’s opposition to its independence.
For now, the Abu Dhabi meeting represents a further step in Somaliland’s effort to convert Israel’s recognition into sustained diplomatic, economic and strategic engagement.
