The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has arrested three individuals in connection with the murder of Rabbi Zvi Kogan, an Israeli-Moldovan national and Chabad emissary based in Abu Dhabi. The UAE Interior Ministry announced the arrests on Sunday, calling the response “in record time” and emphasizing the country’s commitment to maintaining societal security and stability.
Rabbi Kogan, 28, had been missing since Thursday, sparking a joint investigation by UAE authorities and Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad. His body was discovered in the Emirati city of Al Ain, approximately 150 kilometers from Abu Dhabi. His abandoned car was found earlier, an hour’s drive from his residence. The UAE Interior Ministry confirmed that an investigation had been initiated after Kogan’s family reported his disappearance.
Authorities have not yet disclosed details about the arrested suspects or their potential affiliations. Hebrew media outlets have speculated that the suspects could be connected to operatives recruited by Iran, though these claims remain unverified.
Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, described the murder as an “antisemitic act of terror.” He expressed condolences to Kogan’s family and pledged to “use all means at its disposal” to ensure those responsible are brought to justice.
Rabbi Kogan was a prominent figure in the UAE’s Jewish community. He was involved with the Chabad Lubavitch movement, which supports Jewish communities worldwide. In the UAE, Kogan worked to expand Jewish life, helping to establish the first Jewish education center and managing a kosher supermarket in Dubai. Chabad officials described him as a pivotal figure in making kosher food accessible and fostering Jewish life in the Emirates.
Kogan’s wife, Rivky, is a U.S. national and the niece of Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg, who was killed in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. The couple’s work highlighted the growing Jewish presence in the UAE following the 2020 Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between the UAE and Israel.
