The announcement of normalized diplomatic relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a significant event in Middle East international politics, marking the first new regional partnership for Israel since Jordan in 1994. This paper uses a levels of analysis approach to examine the domestic, regional, and systemic pressures that influenced leaders in the two countries to make this bold decision. It argues that the pressures at the domestic and systemic levels are important considerations, but the dynamics at play in the Middle East regional security complex are ultimately more important factors in explaining normalization.