Rabbi Zvi Kogan, a Chabad emissary in Abu Dhabi, has been missing for several days amid suspicions he was kidnapped or possibly murdered in what is feared to be a terror attack.
Kogan served as an assistant to Rabbi Levi Duchman, the UAE’s chief rabbi and head of the local Jewish community.
The Prime Minister’s Office, on behalf of Mossad, issued a statement: “Zvi Kogan, an Israeli-Moldovan citizen and Chabad emissary residing in the United Arab Emirates, has been missing since Thursday afternoon. Following his disappearance and based on information suggesting a terrorist event, an intensive investigation has been launched in the UAE.
“Israeli intelligence and security agencies are working tirelessly out of concern for his safety and well-being. It should be noted that the National Security Council previously issued a Level 3 travel warning (moderate threat) for the UAE, advising against non-essential travel and recommending heightened precautions for those currently in the country.”
Kogan’s family reported they had not heard from him since Wednesday, and Israeli intelligence sources believe he may have been under surveillance by hostile actors before his disappearance. Mossad is reportedly involved in the probe.
The UAE, one of the most heavily surveilled countries in the world, with streets monitored by closed-circuit cameras, has yet to provide significant leads.
The incident comes four years after the UAE signed the Abraham Accords, normalizing relations with Israel alongside Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan.
It also follows Germany’s recent closure of all three Iranian consulates in response to the execution of Jamshid Sharmahd, a dual German-American citizen and opposition figure who was abducted by Iran in 2020.
The investigation into Rabbi Kogan’s disappearance continues, with both Israeli and Emirati officials treating the case as a top priority.