Miss Universe in Eilat will feature first-ever UAE contestant

Israeli singer Noa Kirel is to perform as her country hosts its first Miss Universe competition this December in the Red Sea resort of Eilat.

Organisers have released more details of the contest, the 70th annual event, which will also feature participants from the United Arab Emirates and Morocco.

The UAE is taking part for the first time while Morocco has not competed in over four decades.

Their participation is made possible by the normalisation of ties between Israel and several Arab countries under the Abraham Accords.

Israeli tourism minister Yoel Razvozov said: “Despite the challenges the COVID-19 pandemic placed in our path, we knew how to maintain the balance between health and the economy, to bring tourism back to Israel.

“We needed to create tourism anchors that will promote and present Israel to the world as a vaccination nation that invites tourists to visit.

The Miss Universe pageant is without doubt an important and significant anchor of this plan.”

Participants will be given the opportunity to tour Israel, beginning with Jerusalem, ahead of the live televised contest which will begin at 5pm UK time on Sunday 12 December.

Organisers say the event will “shine a spotlight on the issue of global warming as part of a green agenda that corresponds with the values of the host country”.

Tickets will go on sale on November 15.