By flying over Saudi Arabia, an eight-hour flight was shortened to three and a half hours. This historic milestone will open an era of peace and prosperity in the Middle East and beyond, Kushner said before boarding.

The flight was made under a US-brokered agreement signed between Israel and the UAE on August 13 establishing full diplomatic relations and requiring Israel to suspend its planned annexation of parts of the West Bank.

On board the flight were White House senior adviser Jared Kushner and US National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien, as well as Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israeli and UAE officials will discuss economic, scientific, trade, and cultural cooperation.