By: Abe Wertenheim

Security authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have issued a new directive requiring that every kashrut supervisor visiting food manufacturing plants in the country be accompanied by an armed guard. As reported by Israel National News (INN) on Tuesday, the move reflects growing fears of terror attacks targeting Jews and Jewish institutions across the Gulf, particularly amid escalating threats from Iran and its regional proxies.

This latest measure marks a sharp escalation in precautionary efforts to protect the Jewish community and its religious infrastructure. While the UAE has emerged as a beacon of coexistence since the signing of the Abraham Accords in 2020, authorities now confront the troubling reality of an intensifying threat environment that has placed Jewish life in the Gulf under unprecedented scrutiny.

According to the INN report, the UAE directive is not merely a recommendation but a compulsory requirement imposed on all kashrut agencies operating within the country. An official from one of Israel’s major kashrut authorities confirmed:

“The security directives are not a recommendation, rather a mandatory requirement by the local authorities. We are required to follow them, and we cannot send supervisors to the factories without the required security accompaniment.”

In practical terms, this means that every rabbinic inspector traveling to a facility to oversee kosher compliance must now be shadowed by a professional security guard. The regulation applies uniformly, regardless of the facility’s size, location, or ownership, underscoring the seriousness of the threat assessment by Emirati security officials.

As a direct result of the new measures, the primary kashrut agency in the UAE announced an increase in fees charged to food manufacturers seeking kosher certification. Companies were informed that they would need to absorb an additional $100 per supervisory visit to cover the cost of providing security.

While modest relative to overall production budgets, the surcharge reflects the economic ripple effect of terrorism fears, placing a financial burden on firms participating in the growing kosher food industry in the UAE. The decision also highlights the logistical complexity of ensuring the safety of religious supervisors, whose routine work has now been elevated to a potential security risk.

As the INN report stressed, the timing of these measures is no coincidence. Emirati officials remain on high alert following intelligence reports of Iranian plots and proxy networks planning to strike Jewish and Israeli targets across the Gulf states.

The Gulf region has long been considered a potential flashpoint for Iranian activity, but the intensification of threats in recent weeks has raised alarms. Reports indicate that Jewish communities have been specifically advised to avoid public gatherings and minimize visibility in public places.

This is not without precedent. A kashrut supervisor working in the UAE, speaking anonymously, told INN that since the murder of Chabad emissary Rabbi Zvi Kogan, there has been a steady tightening of security procedures. But the past three weeks, he said, have been marked by “particularly tense” conditions, with Jewish residents advised to alter daily routines.

For the Jewish community of the UAE—comprising expatriates, business professionals, and religious emissaries—the directive is a stark reminder of the fragile balance between visibility and vulnerability. Since the Abraham Accords normalized ties between Israel and several Arab states, Jewish life in the UAE has flourished openly for the first time in decades. Synagogues have been established, kosher restaurants opened, and kashrut agencies have proliferated to support tourism and trade.

But this openness has also attracted heightened risk. Iran, hostile to normalization between Israel and Arab states, has sought to undermine these agreements through a strategy of targeted terror against Jewish institutions abroad. The UAE’s decision to mandate armed guards reflects both the seriousness of the threat and the government’s commitment to ensuring that Jewish life remains protected, even under duress.

As the INN report noted, the UAE’s response must also be viewed through the prism of regional geopolitics. The Gulf states find themselves increasingly caught between their commitments to normalization with Israel and the persistent threat posed by Iranian aggression.

Iranian Proxies: Groups backed by Tehran, from Hezbollah to Shiite militias in Iraq and Yemen, have repeatedly targeted Jewish and Israeli interests worldwide.

October 7th and Aftermath: Following Hamas’s October 7th massacre in Israel, Iranian-aligned groups have sought to extend the conflict into international arenas, raising fears of spillover violence in countries such as the UAE.

Symbolic Targets: Jewish emissaries, kosher facilities, and synagogues are often selected by extremist groups as high-profile targets, chosen precisely for their symbolic significance in bridging Jewish life with Arab states.

The new security directive is therefore not only a protective measure but also a statement of political resolve, signaling that the UAE will not allow its Jewish residents to become pawns in Iran’s regional campaign of intimidation.

The immediate effect of the directive is practical—armed guards will now accompany rabbinic inspectors. But its broader implications are profound:

Visibility vs. Security – While the UAE has prided itself on creating a safe and open environment for Jews, heightened security inevitably creates a sense of siege that could erode the atmosphere of normalcy cultivated since 2020.

Economic Costs – Additional costs for kosher supervision may discourage smaller businesses from seeking certification, potentially slowing the expansion of kosher production in the UAE.

Psychological Burden – For the Jewish community, the message is clear: their safety cannot be taken for granted. Living under heightened threat advisories will weigh heavily on families and institutions already wary of being targets.

Government Commitment – At the same time, the Emirati authorities’ decision to mandate protection demonstrates an unprecedented level of official responsibility toward Jewish citizens and residents—an affirmation that the government views Jewish safety as a matter of state priority.

The UAE’s decision to require security guards for all kashrut supervisors is a telling reflection of the volatile security climate in the Gulf, where Iranian-backed threats loom large and Jewish communities face elevated risks. While the measure imposes added financial and logistical burdens, it underscores the Emirati government’s determination to shield its Jewish population and preserve the delicate achievements of the Abraham Accords.

These developments reflect the dual reality facing Jews in the UAE today: unprecedented visibility and growth, matched by unprecedented vulnerability. The community now finds itself living in the shadow of both promise and peril, navigating the tension between flourishing openly and protecting itself against those who would see that progress undone.

In this fragile balance, the mandatory presence of armed guards at kosher inspections has become a sobering symbol of both the dangers Jewish life faces and the resilience required to sustain it in a volatile region.