The United Arab Emirates on Thursday denied reports claiming that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had made a secret visit to the Gulf nation during the recent conflict involving Iran. The denial came a day after Netanyahu’s office stated that he had traveled to the UAE and held talks with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
According to Netanyahu’s office, the Israeli leader conducted a “secret visit” to the UAE during the war with Iran and met Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed in what it described as a significant diplomatic development. The statement also claimed that the visit represented a “historic breakthrough” in ties between Israel and the UAE amid heightened regional tensions.
The announcement followed remarks by US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, who said Israel had deployed Iron Dome air defence systems and personnel to the UAE during the conflict with Iran. While Netanyahu’s office did not directly confirm details regarding the reported military deployment, it linked the alleged visit to growing strategic cooperation between the two countries.
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In response, the UAE foreign ministry issued a statement rejecting what it called “reports circulating regarding an alleged visit” by Netanyahu or the arrival of any Israeli military delegation in the country. The ministry emphasized that the UAE’s relations with Israel are conducted openly and transparently and are not based on unofficial or undisclosed arrangements.
“The UAE reaffirms that its relations with Israel are public,” the foreign ministry said, adding that any claims involving unannounced visits or secret agreements were “entirely unfounded” unless officially confirmed by UAE authorities. The statement stopped short of directly addressing the claims made by Netanyahu’s office but strongly denied the broader reports surrounding the alleged trip.
Relations between Israel and the UAE were formally established under the 2020 Abraham Accords, which normalized ties between Israel and several Arab nations. Since then, the two countries have expanded cooperation in trade, technology, tourism and security, though regional conflicts and tensions involving Iran continue to test diplomatic dynamics across the Middle East.
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