The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs has denied reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secretly visited the UAE during the height of the recent Israel-Iran conflict.
In an official statement released on Wednesday, United Arab Emirates rejected what she described as false claims about undisclosed meetings and unofficial security arrangements involving Israel.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said so reports of Netanyahu’s trip to the UAE during the recent regional conflict were inaccurate.
“The UAE denies reports circulating about the alleged visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the UAE or the reception of any Israeli military delegation in the country,” the statement said.
The ministry further emphasized that relations between the UAE and Israel are conducted openly and through officially recognized diplomatic channels.
“The UAE reaffirms that its relations with Israel are public and conducted within the framework of the well-known and officially announced Abraham Accords,” the statement added.
Abraham Accords framework highlighted
The UAE has emphasized that its ties with Israel are based solely on the Abraham Accords signed in 2020, which formally established diplomatic relations between the two countries.
According to the ministry, cooperation between Abu Dhabi and Israel is not based on “non-transparent or unofficial arrangements”.
“Any claims of unannounced visits or undisclosed arrangements are completely unsubstantiated unless officially notified by the relevant authorities in the UAE,” the statement said.
The news comes amid heightened regional tensions
The denial follows a report that Netanyahu met with Emirati President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (MBZ) in the city of Al-Ain during the recent Israel-Iran conflict.
According to a statement released by the Israeli prime minister’s office on Wednesday, according to Reuters, the meeting resulted in what it called a “historic breakthrough” in bilateral relations.
The meeting reportedly took place in Al-Ain near the border with Oman
Citing a source familiar with the talks, Reuters reported that Netanyahu and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (MBZ) met on March 26 in the Emirati city of Al-Ain, an oasis city near the border with Oman.
The visit has not yet been made public, making it the first confirmed face-to-face wartime meeting between the two leaders since the outbreak of the Iran conflict.
The Mossad chief has reportedly visited the UAE several times
The source cited by the news agency also said that David Barnea, widely known as Dedi Barnea, traveled to the UAE at least twice during the conflict to coordinate military affairs.
The visits were reportedly linked to coordination efforts related to the regional security situation and military actions during the war with Iran.
The United Arab Emirates deepens relations with Israel and the US after the Iranian attacks
The UAE increasingly strengthened its security and diplomatic coordination with Israel and the United States following the Iranian strikes during the war.
The Gulf country formally normalized relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords in 2020, becoming one of the first Arab states in decades to establish official relations with Israel.
Israel has reportedly deployed Iron Dome support to the UAE
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said on Tuesday that Israel sent Iron Dome missile defense batteries and personnel to the UAE during the conflict.
The deployment reportedly came after Iranian attacks targeted civilian infrastructure and energy facilities across the Gulf states, with the UAE among the countries affected.
Iranian retaliatory attacks during the conflict reportedly hit the UAE harder than several neighboring Gulf countries.
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