The United Arab Emirates has confirmed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu travelled to Abu Dhabi on Sunday and met President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a day after the previously unannounced visit was first reported by Israeli media.
The UAE’s official Emirates News Agency said the two leaders discussed relations between the UAE and Israel and ways to strengthen and further develop them.
The confirmation came around 24 hours after Channel 12 first reported that Netanyahu had flown privately to Abu Dhabi and spent several hours in the country.
UAE Gives Brief Official Account
The Emirati account of the meeting was notably brief.
It said Sheikh Mohamed received Netanyahu during the Israeli prime minister’s visit to the UAE and that the two sides discussed bilateral relations and ways to develop them further.
It did not mention the controversy surrounding alleged warnings ahead of the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.
AP Says Trip Focused On Warning Dispute
Separate reporting by the Associated Press, citing people briefed on the meeting, said Netanyahu travelled to the UAE to ask Sheikh Mohamed to deny reports that he had warned the Israeli leader about a looming Hamas threat shortly before the October 7 attack.
According to that account, the discussion focused on a report published earlier this month alleging that the Emirati president had conveyed a warning to Netanyahu around a week and a half before the attack.
One source told AP that Netanyahu asked Sheikh Mohamed to publicly deny that such a warning had been given.
The UAE has not publicly confirmed that version of events.
Netanyahu’s Office Calls Report ‘Fake News’
Netanyahu’s office rejected the AP account describing the purpose of the trip as “fake news”.
It has also previously denied reports that the Israeli prime minister received such a warning from the UAE before October 7.
The UAE Foreign Ministry has declined to comment specifically on reported conversations between the two leaders.
However, it has previously said that the UAE maintains open and direct channels with Israel and shares relevant intelligence when necessary.
Channel 12 Says UAE Did Not Want To Intervene
Channel 12 separately reported that Netanyahu’s office had repeatedly sought a meeting with Sheikh Mohamed in an effort to persuade the UAE to issue a denial.
According to the Israeli broadcaster, Abu Dhabi viewed the controversy as an internal Israeli political issue and did not want to become involved, particularly ahead of an election.
That account has not been confirmed by the UAE.
Meeting Reportedly Lasted Around An Hour
Netanyahu travelled to Abu Dhabi on a private aircraft on Sunday.
He reportedly departed Israel shortly after midday and spent around four hours in the UAE.
Channel 12 reported that the meeting itself lasted about an hour and took place at the airport.
The trip was not announced in advance by either government.
Israeli Officials Confirm Delegation
Netanyahu’s office later confirmed that the visit had taken place.
It also disclosed that his wife Sara Netanyahu travelled with him.
The delegation included Mossad director Roman Gofman, National Security Council head Shmuel Ben-Ezra, Military Secretary Major General Guy Markizeno and the head of the Shin Bet Security Division.
No official explanation was given for Sara Netanyahu’s inclusion in the delegation.
Shin Bet Complains Over Early Disclosure
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office also said the Shin Bet had filed a complaint with the IDF Military Censor over Channel 12’s decision to report Netanyahu’s visit before he had returned to Israel.
According to the PMO, the report was published almost an hour before Netanyahu’s aircraft landed back in Israel.
The office said a Mossad security assessment described the early disclosure as a serious risk to the prime minister, the delegation and Israeli personnel involved in the operation.
Wider Row Over Pre-October 7 Warnings
The UAE controversy is part of a broader political dispute inside Israel over warnings allegedly received before the October 7 attack.
Reports have also alleged that Egyptian officials attempted to warn Israeli authorities ahead of the assault.
Netanyahu has strongly denied that he personally received such warnings.
He has said he did not meet or speak with then-Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel in the months before the attack and that no Israeli intelligence official passed an Egyptian warning to him.
Netanyahu Blames Security Chiefs
Netanyahu has instead argued that senior Israeli security officials failed to alert him in the hours immediately before the attack.
He has publicly criticised former Shin Bet director Ronen Bar, former IDF chief Herzi Halevi and former military intelligence chief Aharon Haliva over their handling of intelligence during the night before October 7.
Those claims form part of a wider and highly contested debate in Israel over responsibility for the failures preceding the attack.
UAE-Israel Relations Continue Despite Regional Tensions
The UAE and Israel established formal diplomatic relations under the Abraham Accords in 2020.
Despite severe regional tensions since October 7 and subsequent wars across the Middle East, the UAE has maintained diplomatic relations and direct communications with Israel.
The Emirati government has repeatedly said its engagement is aimed at regional stability, de-escalation and maintaining channels of communication.
The UAE’s public account of Sunday’s meeting focused solely on strengthening bilateral ties and did not address the reports concerning any alleged pre-October 7 warning.
