Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi has brought renewed attention to the evolving strategic relationship between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. Netanyahu visited the UAE on Sunday and held talks with Sheikh Mohamed, with the Emirati side later confirming that the two leaders discussed bilateral relations and ways to strengthen and develop them. The meeting comes amid heightened tensions involving Iran and wider security concerns across the Middle East, making the public engagement between the two leaders significant beyond their bilateral relationship.

The visit is also notable because Israel and the UAE established diplomatic relations under the Abraham Accords in 2020, after which cooperation expanded across several areas. While much of the relationship has involved economic, technological and diplomatic engagement, security concerns have increasingly become an important part of the regional equation. The UAE has faced threats from Iran-aligned groups, including the Houthis in Yemen, while Israel has extensive experience in missile defence, intelligence and countering aerial threats. The latest meeting therefore takes place against a backdrop in which Gulf security and regional alignments remain closely connected.

Iran is one of the central issues shaping the strategic environment around the visit. The UAE has sought to maintain its economic and diplomatic position while managing security risks arising from tensions involving Iran and other regional actors. Israel, meanwhile, has continued to view Iran and its regional network as major security concerns. The public confirmation of Netanyahu’s meeting with Sheikh Mohamed does not by itself establish the details of any security arrangements discussed, but it demonstrates that communication between the two governments remains active. The UAE has also said that its communication channels with Israel have remained open since diplomatic relations were established in 2020.

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For India, the developments are relevant because New Delhi maintains close relationships with both Israel and the UAE. India’s ties with the UAE encompass trade, investment, energy and strategic cooperation, while its relationship with Israel includes defence, technology, agriculture and other areas. The UAE is also an important partner in the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, or IMEC, which is intended to connect India with Europe through the Middle East using a combination of maritime and land connectivity. The project has faced geopolitical and logistical challenges, but renewed attention to regional connectivity keeps India’s interests closely linked to developments in the Gulf.

The UAE-Israel relationship also has implications for the broader regional balance. Abu Dhabi has sought to maintain its own diplomatic and economic relationships while strengthening partnerships with major international and regional powers. Israel’s relationship with the UAE provides another channel for cooperation at a time when Gulf countries are dealing with changing security conditions. At the same time, the latest meeting should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of a new military alliance or a specific regional agreement, as the official statement from the UAE described the discussions more broadly in terms of bilateral relations and their development.

The meeting also comes amid renewed scrutiny of relations between Netanyahu and Sheikh Mohamed following reports concerning an alleged warning about the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack. Netanyahu has denied receiving such a warning, while the UAE has not confirmed the reported claim. Against this backdrop, the Abu Dhabi meeting provides a public indication that the Israel-UAE diplomatic channel remains active despite disagreements and wider regional tensions. For India, continued engagement among Israel, the UAE and other regional partners will remain relevant to trade connectivity, investment, energy security and the future of projects such as IMEC.

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