Cooperation with UAE Companies Becomes a Nightmare for Arabs Due to Israeli Ally

Cooperation with companies in the UAE has turned into a nightmare for many citizens of Arab countries, driven by the Israeli alliance and worries about empowering Abu Dhabi to deepen its influence and solidify normalization efforts.

This was evident in the concerns triggered by the digital transformation project in the health sector in Jordan, signed with the Emirati company Presight. It raised numerous questions and fears among Jordanian politicians and citizens due to the company’s links to Israeli firms funded by Abu Dhabi.

According to the opposition website (uae71), the signing of the mentioned agreement was part of a series of comprehensive memorandums of understanding recently signed between the two countries, which included a package of investment projects and economic partnerships worth up to 5.5 billion dollars.

In his initial remarks on the agreement, Jordanian MP Abdulraouf Al-Rubaihat submitted a memorandum to the Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Zeina Toukan, concerning the contract with Presight for the digitization and modernization of the public sector. He emphasized that this company is the outcome of a joint venture between an Emirati firm and an Israeli company.

Al-Rubaihat highlighted that after researching the company Presight, with which the contract for the digital transformation project at the Jordanian Ministry of Health was signed, it was revealed that this company stems from a joint venture between Abu Dhabi-based G42 and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, known for manufacturing specialized systems to protect the Israeli occupation.

Al-Rubaihat affirmed that “it is unacceptable and incomprehensible for the government to allow access to the databases of the public health sector, one of the most vital and crucial sectors, to a company that operates for an occupation involved in ongoing war crimes.”

In light of the continued reactions to the controversial agreement with Presight, prominent Jordanian journalist Hussam Gharaibeh also voiced his concerns, stating that this agreement poses a threat to the future of the country’s national security.

Gharaibeh warned that Presight is connected to the Israeli company Rafael, which is involved with the Israeli defense system. This raises concerns among Jordanian citizens, who are now questioning whether this company will be involved in the automation and digitization program for the health sector in Jordan.

He continued, saying: “If this company (Presight) is connected to an Israeli firm, then Jordanians have the right to be concerned—not out of skepticism towards the Emiratis, but due to the Israelis, who have successfully breached many accounts, including Hezbollah’s and the Beirut explosions.”

Presight, referred to as an “Emirati-Israeli” company, specializes in big data analytics and artificial intelligence. It is viewed as a significant Israeli-Emirati tool for compromising information security in the countries where it operates, providing services to Israeli intelligence agencies including Mossad, Shin Bet, Aman, and Unit 8200. According to the Palestinian agency Shihab, the company has contracts with these Israeli entities.

Established in 2020 in Abu Dhabi, Presight formed a significant partnership the following year with a prominent Israeli military industry company. The company boasts over 390 experts from more than 30 nationalities, with Emiratis constituting 9% of its workforce and women comprising 25%.

The company is primarily staffed by Israeli engineers, experts, and technicians, including individuals who have previously worked for Israeli security and intelligence agencies like Mossad, Shin Bet, Aman, and the Israeli military intelligence Unit 8200, according to the same source.

Officials and analysts monitoring Emirati and Israeli developments have observed a significant Israeli advance into the Emirati market, especially within security and military sectors or those linked to artificial intelligence. This trend raises critical concerns about the security implications for Abu Dhabi in particular and the Gulf region as a whole.

According to reports, numerous private security firms and those linked to the Israeli Ministry of Defense have significantly increased their activities and presence in the UAE since the controversial normalization agreement. This development poses risks of the country being exposed to possible Israeli espionage efforts, both within the UAE and abroad.

Recently, Israeli security and military circles disclosed that an Israeli company, specializing in aerial intelligence collection and analysis through drones, is developing infrastructure for a fleet of drones in urban areas for a government agency in Abu Dhabi. This deal amounts to a total of two million dollars.

Several months ago, Hebrew media reported that Israeli security companies and those operating in the cyber field had entered the UAE to work within a coalition of several such firms. The Israeli economic newspaper “Globes” confirmed at the time that the cyber company “XM Cyber,” in which former Mossad chief Tamir Pardo holds a stake, had entered the Gulf for the first time with the aim of selling its security products for infrastructure related to gas, oil, and financial matters.

The “Digital Transformation Project in the Ministry of Health” aims to digitize services within the healthcare sector and offer a variety of remote health services by creating a virtual hospital. This involves the renovation of the old Salt Hospital building and the provision of the necessary electronic systems to facilitate health services.

The initial phase encompasses three remote services: Tele-Radiology for remote imaging exchange, Tele-Dialysis for delivering health services and consultations to dialysis patients, and Tele-ICU for remote consultations among doctors concerning intensive care unit patients. It also includes the development of a patient billing system in hospitals and government health centers, along with support for setting up a training simulation center for medical personnel.

It is important to mention that the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development plays a crucial role in supporting development initiatives in Jordan. Since 1974, the fund has financed a significant number of service and infrastructure projects in the kingdom, with total funding reaching around 2.7 billion USD, according to the Jordanian Ministry of Planning.