UAE rejects claim of Netanyahu’s ‘secret visit’

International Desk: PNN

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has directly rejected claims made by the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a “secret visit” to the UAE.

In a statement cited by state news agency WAM on Wednesday night, the UAE said its relations with Israel are not secret or informal, but are open diplomatic relations under the U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords.

The statement added: “Claims of secret visits or secret meetings are completely baseless unless officially confirmed by the relevant UAE authorities.”

The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office had claimed on social media that Netanyahu held a “secret meeting” with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during the recent Iran–Israel conflict, although no specific date was provided.

Israel described the alleged meeting as a “historic development” in relations between the two countries.

Meanwhile, reports suggest that cooperation between Israel and Gulf countries has been increasing, especially regarding regional security and the Iran issue. The United States has also reportedly discussed deploying Israeli defense systems in the UAE.

Earlier in May, several regional leaders contacted the UAE president following Iranian attacks. Netanyahu also reportedly expressed solidarity at that time, according to state sources.

The Abraham Accords, signed in 2020 with U.S. mediation, normalized diplomatic relations between Israel and several Arab countries, though the agreement was strongly rejected by Palestinian leadership.

Analysts say that amid ongoing regional conflict and the Iran issue, Israel–Gulf relations are becoming closer, but controversies over transparency and secrecy are also increasing.