Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made an unannounced visit to Abu Dhabi on Sunday, September 27, and met United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, according to a senior Israeli official.
Reuters reported that the official confirmed the meeting. Netanyahu’s office and the UAE Foreign Ministry did not immediately comment. Israeli media, including Channel 12, KAN, Haaretz and The Jerusalem Post, also reported the visit.
According to Israeli reports, Netanyahu travelled to the UAE on a private aircraft and spent several hours in Abu Dhabi before returning to Israel. The Times of Israel reported that he arrived in Abu Dhabi at around 3:10 pm and left about four hours later.
Visit Comes Amid October 7 Warning Controversy
The visit comes weeks after a report in Haaretz alleged that Mohamed bin Zayed had warned Netanyahu before the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack that the group was preparing a major operation against Israel.
The report said the warning was given during a phone call between the two leaders. An Emirati source later confirmed the account to The Times of Israel.
Netanyahu has denied the report and said he would take legal action against Haaretz. The UAE has not confirmed the alleged conversation, saying that it does not comment on reports or speculation about discussions between government leaders.
The issue has attracted renewed attention in Israel as questions continue over warnings and intelligence available before the October 7 attack.
Israel and UAE Established Ties in 2020
Israel and the UAE established diplomatic relations in 2020 under the US backed Abraham Accords.
The two countries have maintained diplomatic and economic ties since then, although relations have faced pressure over Israel’s war and regional tensions.
The latest meeting was also notable because the UAE had denied an earlier Israeli claim in May that Netanyahu had secretly met Mohamed bin Zayed during the Iran war. The UAE Foreign Ministry said at the time that claims about unannounced visits or undisclosed arrangements were unfounded unless officially announced by UAE authorities.
The UAE has not yet issued a public statement on Sunday’s meeting.
