UAE Officially Confirms Netanyahu's Visit, Discusses Bilateral Ties

The United Arab Emirates has officially confirmed a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, marking the first public acknowledgment from the UAE. According to a statement, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met with Netanyahu, who visited the country the previous day. The leaders discussed bilateral relations and ways to strengthen and further develop them, as reported by Channel 14. This confirmation follows earlier reports from Israeli media and a high-ranking Israeli official, with both the Prime Minister's Office and Emirati officials initially withholding details.

Sources in Israel indicated that Netanyahu arrived in Abu Dhabi on a private jet, accompanied by senior security officials including Mossad Director Roman Hoffman and National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi. The visit lasted approximately six hours and was pre-arranged, with plans to announce it only after the delegation's return. The meeting occurred amidst ongoing strategic importance of ties between Jerusalem and Abu Dhabi, particularly given regional tensions.

Israel and the UAE established diplomatic relations under the "Abraham Accords" in 2020 and have since expanded cooperation in trade, tourism, technology, and security. The timing of the visit also drew attention due to recent reports of alleged contacts between UAE leadership and Netanyahu prior to the October 7th events. Netanyahu has strongly denied claims that Sheikh Mohamed warned him of an impending attack. The UAE has not publicly commented on such warnings, previously emphasizing direct communication channels since diplomatic relations began. The official Emirati statement did not address this topic, nor did it reveal further details beyond the discussion of bilateral ties and their enhancement.