New Delhi: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has denied reports claiming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secretly visited the Gulf nation during the height of the Iran war, even as reports point to expanding strategic cooperation between Israel and the UAE.
According to a report by The Guardian, citing Reuters, Netanyahu allegedly travelled to the UAE on March 26 and held talks with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Al Ain near the Oman border.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office reportedly claimed the meeting resulted in a “historic breakthrough” in ties between the two countries. However, the UAE foreign ministry rejected the reports and described the claims surrounding Netanyahu’s visit as baseless.
“In the midst of Operation Roaring Lion, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secretly visited the United Arab Emirates, where he met with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed.
The report also suggested that Mossad chief David Barnea visited the UAE multiple times during the Iran conflict to coordinate military-related matters.
The developments underline the growing strategic partnership between Israel and the UAE since the signing of the Abraham Accords in 2020. The UAE became the first Islamic nation to normalise ties with Israel under the agreement, followed later by Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan.
The Guardian report further stated that US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee recently disclosed that Israel shared its air defence system with the UAE during the Iran war, including Iron Dome batteries and military personnel.
Additional reports also claimed the UAE carried out covert strikes on Iranian targets in response to attacks on its oil facilities, though Abu Dhabi has not publicly acknowledged such actions.
The growing alignment between Israel and the UAE comes amid shifting geopolitical dynamics in the Middle East, particularly over Iran and regional security. Both countries also maintain close ties with the administration of US President Donald Trump.
At the same time, both nations continue to face international scrutiny over allegations linked to ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Sudan.
