Israeli officials have been in contact with the family of the Israeli-Moldavian national and Israeli statements have continued since his disappearance.
The discovery of Zvi Kogan’s body came after his car was found abandoned an hour’s drive from his home.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog also called his killing a “vicious and anti-Semitic attack.”
Mossad investigators are working to identify those responsible for the rabbi’s death.
Chabad is a religious foundation that seeks to build connections with unaffiliated secular Jews or other sects of Judaism. The group’s UAE branch supports thousands of Jewish visitors and residents, according to its website., external.
Rabbi Kogan, 28, collaborated with other Harvard envoys “in establishing and expanding Jewish life in the Emirate,” the organization said., external. He also managed a kosher supermarket in Dubai.
“We believe the UAE will work with regional countries to bring the perpetrators to justice and hold accountable all those involved in this act of pure evil,” said Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky, president of Chabad Lubavitch.
The Israeli government’s travel advisory service is warning citizens to travel to the UAE only for “essential reasons”, saying there are “terrorist activities” in the country, which pose “a real risk to Israelis staying/visiting the country.” .
Abu Dhabi established formal relations with Israel under the US-brokered Abraham Accords.
Relations have been maintained even during the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
Additional reporting by Ruth Comerford.
