A Dubai-based private jet landed at Israel's Ben Gurion International Airport on Sunday. It parked on the tarmac for a few hours and then took off again. It belongs to DP World – a logistics and shipping company in Dubai that operates warehouses and ports around the world.

This wasn't the first time that the Boeing 737 landed in Israel. In fact, it has visited three times in the last week alone. It also paid a visit two months ago -- and last year. A relative of a senior political figure in the United Arab Emirates is apparently receiving medical treatment in Israel, but there may be another reason for the visits.

In September 2018, the CEO of DP World, Sultan Ahmed Ben Sulayem visited Israel to advance his business ties, according to a Times of Israel report. DP World is one of the top five global companies operating container terminals, and has had a long-standing working relationship with Israel's Zim shipping company. The two companies have collaborated in the past in investing in ports around the world.

Open gallery view The Dubai World bizjet returning from Israel to the UAE Credit: Flightradar24.com

Israel has had official representation in Dubai since 2015. And while tensions between Israel and its Arab neighbors are rising, Israel is continuing to normalize relations with countries in the Persian Gulf.