Solly Wolf, the longtime president of the Jewish community in the United Arab Emirates and a key figure in fostering interfaith ties in the Gulf state, has died at the age of 75 after a prolonged illness, the community announced Wednesday.
Wolf, who moved to the UAE in 2002, dedicated his life to building bridges between cultures and religions. Known for his warmth and generosity, he opened his home to all and was regarded as a true friend to people of all backgrounds.
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Solly Wolf (right) shaking hands with former UAE president Sheikh Khalifa Al Nahyan
(Photo: Courtesy of the Jewish Community in the UAE)
He played a central role in strengthening ties between the Jewish community and the Emirati leadership, working tirelessly to promote coexistence and mutual respect. His efforts helped establish a thriving Jewish presence in the UAE, particularly in the wake of the 2020 Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and the Gulf nation.
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In a 2020 interview with Ynet, Wolf described how his business ventures initially brought him to the region. “I grew up in London, and the business world took me to various places,” he said. “I saw the potential in the Gulf states and traveled frequently to better understand the region. Eventually, my trips became so frequent that commuting from Munich to Dubai became impractical. So in 2002, I decided to settle here permanently.”
Wolf spoke openly about the sense of security he felt as a Jew in the Muslim-majority nation and his efforts to help preserve Jewish identity. He noted that his community had even secured approval for kosher wine for religious rituals—an unusual accommodation in a country where alcohol is strictly regulated.
“It is very safe for us here. We do not hide our identity,” he said. “We feel comfortable and free to pray, attend synagogue, and go anywhere. There is no hostility toward us—neither from the people nor from the authorities. The state and its leaders take care of us and our needs. I have never felt animosity, and everyone knows I am Jewish. We have neighbors next to the synagogue, and they accept us as we are.”
Rabbi Levi Duchman, the chief rabbi of the UAE, mourned Wolf’s passing, calling him “the beloved grandfather of our community.”
“Solly was a remarkable person—someone you could always trust and admire for his wisdom and boundless empathy,” Duchman said. “And above all, he knew how to tell a great story. He had so many stories worth telling.”