Abu Dhabi (Monitoring Desk) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made an unannounced visit to the capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi, on Sunday, where he met UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
A senior Israeli official confirmed the meeting to Reuters; however, no official statement was immediately issued by the Israeli prime minister’s office or the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to reports, Netanyahu’s visit had not been publicly announced in advance. Israeli media reported that he arrived in Abu Dhabi on a private jet and returned to Israel after staying for approximately one day.
Details of the agenda and the discussions between the two leaders were not immediately available.
The meeting took place at a time when relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, as well as the regional security situation, are attracting international attention. The two countries established diplomatic relations in 2020 under the Abraham Accords, after which ties in various sectors have continued.
Netanyahu’s visit also comes amid a recent controversy. Israeli newspaper Haaretz claimed earlier this month that Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed had warned Netanyahu about alleged preparations by Hamas for a major operation approximately a week and a half before the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack.
The Israeli prime minister denied the report, while the United Arab Emirates did not directly comment on the matter.
According to Reuters, security-related contacts between the two countries have remained in place. However, a UAE source had previously said that such matters were discussed through the relevant institutions and not at the level of national leaders.
Further details regarding the latest meeting are yet to be released by the two governments.