JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a covert visit to the United Arab Emirates during the height of the war with Iran and met President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, his office said Wednesday, in a claim swiftly denied by Abu Dhabi.
According to Netanyahu’s office, the meeting took place on March 26 in Al Ain, near the Oman border, and lasted several hours, focusing on security coordination and regional developments amid escalating hostilities with Iran.
The statement described the talks as a “historic breakthrough” in bilateral relations, reflecting what Israeli officials say is an unprecedented level of strategic cooperation between the two countries.
The reported visit came at a time when Iran was launching waves of missiles and drones targeting Gulf states, including the UAE, as part of a wider confrontation that raised fears of a regional war. While many projectiles were intercepted, the attacks caused casualties and damage, particularly around strategic and energy infrastructure.
Israeli media and international reports have indicated that Israel provided defensive support to the UAE during the conflict, including the deployment of air defence systems such as the Iron Dome and the presence of Israeli security personnel on the ground. Israeli intelligence officials were also said to have travelled frequently to the Gulf state to coordinate responses to Iranian threats.
If confirmed, such cooperation would mark a significant deepening of ties since Israel and the UAE normalized relations under the Abraham Accords, brokered by the United States. Since then, the two countries have expanded cooperation in trade, technology, intelligence and security, though military coordination has remained largely out of public view.
However, the UAE foreign ministry rejected the Israeli account, stating that no such visit by Netanyahu took place and describing the reports as “entirely unfounded”. Emirati officials emphasized that the country’s relations with Israel are conducted through “official and transparent channels”.
Analysts say the denial may reflect the political sensitivity of overt military alignment with Israel, particularly during an active conflict involving Iran, which maintains influence across the region.
The war between Israel and Iran — marked by direct exchanges of missile and drone fire — has altered regional dynamics, pushing some Gulf states toward closer security coordination with Israel due to shared concerns over Iranian military capabilities.
The episode highlights both the rapid evolution of alliances in the Middle East and the limits of public acknowledgment, as governments balance strategic cooperation with domestic and regional political pressures.
