The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has refuted claims of a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, clarifying that reports suggesting his presence in the country are untrue. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that its relationship with Israel is based on the Abraham Accords and not on undisclosed agreements. Any assertions of secret visits or unofficial deals are dismissed as groundless unless officially confirmed by UAE authorities. The ministry urged media organizations to verify information before spreading unconfirmed news to avoid political speculation.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office previously announced a clandestine trip to the UAE, where he reportedly met with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan amid tensions with Iran. Netanyahu’s office hailed the visit as a significant breakthrough in Israel-UAE relations, although specific details were not disclosed. This visit marks Netanyahu’s first documented trip to the UAE and the second instance of an Israeli prime minister visiting the Gulf nation.
Recent media reports have highlighted visits by Israel’s top security officials to the UAE, indicating a deepening of security cooperation between the two countries following their normalization of ties in 2020. Mossad intelligence agency chief David Barnea reportedly visited the UAE twice in March and April to coordinate efforts related to Iran, as reported by the Wall Street Journal, citing Arab officials. Additionally, Israel’s Shin Bet internal security agency chief David Zini was also said to have visited the UAE, as per Israel’s state-owned Kan News.
