Tel Aviv/Dubai: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a secret visit to the United Arab Emirates during the recent conflict with Iran and held talks with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, according to an announcement from the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office.
Officials said the closed door meeting focused on regional security and growing tensions in the Middle East during the war period. The visit remained undisclosed until after Netanyahu returned to Israel.The development comes amid reports that Israel provided military assistance, including air defence support, to help protect the UAE during Iranian attacks.
However, UAE authorities denied reports of any previously unannounced visit by the Israeli leader.Israel and the UAE normalized relations under the Abraham Accords in 2020, leading to expanding diplomatic, economic and security cooperation between the two nations despite continuing regional instability.