The United Arab Emirates has confirmed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed in Abu Dhabi during a visit on Sunday.
According to the UAE’s official news agency, the two leaders discussed ways to further strengthen and develop bilateral relations.
Netanyahu’s visit to Abu Dhabi had earlier been reported by Israeli media. The Israeli prime minister’s office had also announced a visit to the UAE and a meeting with the Emirati president in May this year.
Saudi Representatives Join Expanded Security Meeting
Saudi representatives also joined an expanded meeting following Netanyahu’s talks with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed.
According to Emirati sources, Netanyahu initiated the meeting. The first part involved Netanyahu, Sheikh Mohamed and representatives from Israel and the UAE. Representatives of other Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, joined the second part.
The sources said the meeting discussed security cooperation, including defensive systems such as Iron Dome, the war involving Iran and the Houthis, and efforts to establish a coalition of regional states.
According to the information cited, Israel’s ambassador to the UAE, Yossi Shelley, is responsible for advancing the effort on the Israeli side.
Yemen Pressure Brings Saudi Arabia and UAE Back to Talks
According to Reuters, developments in Yemen may be bringing Saudi Arabia and the UAE closer again after months of diplomatic efforts.
Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman has invited UAE Vice President Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed to Riyadh on Tuesday. The development comes after relations between the two Gulf partners deteriorated over Yemen during the past year.
There is no indication that Abu Dhabi is returning to the war. However, the security situation around Saudi Arabia has changed, with the Houthis advancing and Saudi cities facing missile and drone attacks.
Reuters also reported that Turkey and Pakistan are discussing military support, while Britain has agreed to provide air-to-air refuelling.
The latest Saudi-UAE engagement comes as Riyadh faces pressures linked to the same Yemen conflict that contributed to tensions between the two countries.
Netanyahu Reportedly Sought Denial of Hamas Warning Report
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly made a secret visit to Abu Dhabi and asked Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed to deny a report that the Emirati president had warned him about a possible major Hamas attack before October 7.
According to Israel’s Channel 12, the reported request was a central issue during the meeting between Netanyahu and Sheikh Mohamed.
Netanyahu’s office had previously rejected a report published by Haaretz claiming that the UAE president had provided an advance warning.
Sources said the two leaders met for around an hour, while Netanyahu spent approximately four hours in the UAE. Most of their discussion reportedly took place in a one-on-one meeting.
Reported Advance Warning
According to the Haaretz report, Sheikh Mohamed had a 45-minute conversation with Netanyahu in which he allegedly warned that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was preparing a major operation against Israel.
The report said the Emirati president urged Netanyahu to take action, warning that such an operation could lead to bloodshed, destabilize the wider region and damage the Abraham Accords.
Channel 12 reported that no Emirati official had formally denied the alleged warning, while other sources had also corroborated the conversation. Netanyahu’s office, however, rejected the Haaretz report.
The UAE Foreign Ministry did not directly comment on reports of the meeting. It said that the UAE maintains open and direct lines of communication with Israel and shares all relevant intelligence.
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