Israel said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a secret visit to the United Arab Emirates during the height of the war involving Iran, describing the meeting as a “historic breakthrough” in relations between the two countries.
Netanyahu’s office said on Wednesday that he met UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in the city of Al Ain during the conflict, as military and security cooperation between Israel and the Gulf state intensified.
Reuters reported that the two leaders met for several hours on March 26, while additional reports said Mossad director David Barnea visited the UAE multiple times during the conflict to coordinate security matters.
The UAE, however, denied the claims, saying relations with Israel “are not based on secrecy or clandestine arrangements”.
The dispute over the reported visit emerged as signs of deeper coordination between Israel and the UAE continued to surface during the confrontation with Iran.
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said this week that Israel deployed Iron Dome air defence systems and personnel to the UAE to help counter potential Iranian attacks.
Huckabee described ties between the two countries as “extraordinary”, highlighting growing cooperation between Israel and Gulf Arab states following the 2020 Abraham Accords.
The UAE’s state news agency WAM said Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed also received a call from Netanyahu after Iranian attacks on the UAE in early May, with the Israeli leader expressing solidarity and support for the country’s security measures.
A fragile ceasefire between Iran and the United States has remained in place since April 8 after weeks of hostilities that also involved regional missile and drone attacks.
Relations between Israel and the UAE have steadily expanded since the normalization agreement signed in Washington in 2020 under the Abraham Accords.
The UAE became the first Gulf Arab state to formally establish ties with Israel under the US-backed deal, later followed by Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan.
Recent reports also suggested the UAE may have conducted strikes against Iranian-linked targets during the conflict, although Abu Dhabi has not confirmed those claims.
The growing relationship has drawn attention as both governments deepen security cooperation while facing international scrutiny over allegations linked to conflicts in Gaza and Sudan, allegations both countries deny.