Netanyahu Claims Secret UAE Visit During Iran War as UAE Denies

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced on May 14, 2026, that the Prime Minister made a secret visit to the United Arab Emirates to meet with its president, a claim that the Emirati government has officially denied.

The Prime Minister’s Office stated that the undisclosed meeting, which took place during the conflict between Israel, the United States, and Iran, resulted in a historic breakthrough in relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.

Conflicting Accounts of the Meeting

While the Israeli government has characterized the visit as a significant diplomatic milestone, the United Arab Emirates has rejected the claims. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement describing any reports of unannounced visits or undisclosed arrangements as entirely unfounded.

In its response, the Emirati foreign ministry emphasized that its relationship with Israel is conducted through established channels. The ministry stated:

The UAE reaffirms that its relations with Israel are public and conducted within the framework of the well-known and officially declared Abraham Accords, and are not based on non-transparent or unofficial arrangements.

The ministry added that any claims regarding such visits remain unfounded unless they are officially announced by the relevant authorities within the UAE.

According to a source familiar with the details reported by the Times of Israel, the meeting between Prime Minister Netanyahu and UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan allegedly occurred on March 26, 2026. The source claimed the meeting took place in Al-Ain, an oasis city located near the border with Oman, and lasted for several hours.

Military Cooperation and Defense Deployments

The announcement of the alleged meeting follows recent reports regarding increased military and defensive cooperation between the two nations. On May 13, 2026, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee revealed that Israel had deployed Iron Dome air-defense weapons and personnel to the United Arab Emirates to operate the systems.

Sources confirmed that the UAE received these defense systems, which are designed to intercept incoming projectiles. The deployment of Israeli military assets and personnel to the Emirates has been viewed as a sign of the growing security relationship between the two countries during the ongoing war with Iran.

The security situation in the region remains volatile. The United Arab Emirates has been subject to missile and drone attacks from Iran, even following a ceasefire reached last month. These attacks have pressured the Gulf nation to maintain stability and reassure international investors of its safety.

Geopolitical Context and the Abraham Accords

The diplomatic tension follows the 2020 Abraham Accords, a U.S.-brokered agreement that normalized relations between Israel and four Arab nations, including the United Arab Emirates. While the accords strengthened ties, they have also been a point of contention for Iran.

Recent reports have suggested that cooperation between the two nations extends beyond defense. The Wall Street Journal reported on May 11, 2026, that the United Arab Emirates had carried out military strikes against Iran during the previous month, though the UAE has not publicly acknowledged those actions.

reports indicated that the heads of Israel’s two primary intelligence agencies also made secret trips to the Gulf state to assist the UAE in bolstering its defensive and offensive capabilities in response to Iranian threats. Last week, the UAE state news agency, WAM, reported that Prime Minister Netanyahu was among several leaders who contacted the Emirati president to express solidarity and condemn Iranian attacks.

The discrepancy between the Israeli government’s claim of a secret breakthrough and the UAE’s insistence on transparency highlights the complex nature of Middle Eastern diplomacy during active conflict. While Israel points to the meeting as a sign of deepening strategic ties, the UAE appears focused on maintaining the public and formal framework of the Abraham Accords to avoid domestic unrest or diplomatic complications.