Netanyahu’s Office Says He Secretly Met UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Netanyahu made a “secret” trip to the United Arab Emirates at the height of the Iran war to meet President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, describing the meeting as a “historic breakthrough in relations between Israel and the UAE.”

““This visit has led to a historic breakthrough in relations between Israel and the UAE,””

The Guardian

The UAE foreign ministry denied the reports, saying relations with Israel “are public” and “not based on non-transparent or unofficial arrangements.”

DW

A source cited by Reuters reported the two leaders met for several hours in Al Ain, an oasis city by the Oman border, on 26 March.

The same reporting said Mossad director David Barnea made at least two visits to the UAE during the war to coordinate military actions, with U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee disclosing that Israel sent Iron Dome batteries and operators to the UAE during the conflict.

The dispute over Netanyahu’s alleged trip unfolded alongside the UAE’s denial that it had received any Israeli military delegation, with the UAE foreign ministry statement saying “any claims regarding unannounced visits or undisclosed arrangements are entirely unfounded unless officially announced by the relevant authorities in the UAE.”

Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi weighed in with a warning that “collusion with Israel” is “unforgivable,” and said those working with Israel “will be held to account.”

Haaretz

The New York Times described the back-and-forth as a sign of how close Israel and the United Arab Emirates have become, noting that the Emiratis bore the brunt of Iran’s attacks on its neighbors throughout the war.

In parallel, the Wall Street Journal reporting cited by multiple outlets said Mossad chief David Barnea traveled to the UAE at least twice in March and April to coordinate military operations, while U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee said Israel sent Iron Dome batteries and military specialists to operate them over the course of the war.

The reported Israel-UAE security cooperation is framed in the sources as directly tied to Iran’s campaign, with The Times of Israel saying Tehran launched sustained attacks on the UAE, firing “some 550 ballistic and cruise missiles and more than 2,200 drones,” according to the Emirati defense ministry.

“firing “some 550 ballistic and cruise missiles and more than 2,200 drones,””

The Times of Israel

To help protect its Abraham Accords ally, Israel sent an Iron Dome battery and soldiers to operate it in the UAE, with American officials cited by The Times of Israel and U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee saying, “Israel just sent them Iron Dome batteries and personnel to help operate them.”

The Guardian reported that the UAE foreign ministry denied the Netanyahu-visit claims even as Reuters said the leaders met in Al Ain on 26 March and that Mossad director David Barnea made at least two visits during the war.

The sources also tie the dispute to broader regional consequences, including the claim that the UAE carried out an attack on a refinery on Lavan Island in early April, after which Iran responded by firing missiles and drones at the UAE and Kuwait.