Israel's new foreign minister inaugurated its embassy in the Gulf during a trip to the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday after bilateral ties were normalized last year.

During his two-day visit, the first to the Gulf power by an Israeli cabinet minister since the countries established ties, Yair Lapid is also due to inaugurate a consulate in Dubai and sign a bilateral agreement on economic cooperation.

"The opening of the Israeli Embassy in Abu Dhabi with the Emirati Minister of Culture and Youth," he tweeted with a photo of himself and UAE minister Noura al-Kaabi cutting a ribbon in the blue and white of the Israeli flag.  

"Israel wants peace with its neighbors. With all its neighbors. We aren't going anywhere. The Middle East is our home. We're here to stay. We call on all the countries of the region to recognize that. And to come talk to us," Lapid said during the opening ceremony.

(With input from Reuters, AFP)