Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly made a clandestine journey to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) amidst the ongoing conflict with Iran, with the aim of meeting President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Netanyahu’s office announced on Wednesday that this meeting marked a significant turning point in the relations between Israel and the UAE, suggesting a “historic breakthrough.” The leaders are said to have convened for several hours on March 26 in the city of Al Ain, near the border with Oman.
In related developments, the head of Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad, David Barnea, is believed to have visited the UAE at least twice during the conflict with Iran. These visits were reportedly intended to coordinate military operations, with the intelligence chief’s presence being a notable element in strengthening ties. The burgeoning alliance between the two nations was highlighted by the U.S. ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, who revealed that Israel had provided the UAE with its Iron Dome air defense systems, along with military personnel for their operation during the war.
Despite these claims, the UAE’s foreign ministry has dismissed reports of Netanyahu’s visit as “baseless.” Meanwhile, reports have emerged that the UAE conducted its own strikes against Iran, including a notable attack on an oil refinery on Lavan Island in early April, retaliating against Iranian assaults on its oil infrastructure. The UAE’s relationship with Israel has evolved significantly since 2020 when it became the first Islamic nation to formalize ties with Israel through the “Abraham Accords,” later joined by Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan.
The UAE has pursued an independent foreign policy, distinct from its larger neighbor Saudi Arabia, reflected in its recent departure from the Saudi-led oil cartel, OPEC, a move that has diminished the organization’s global market influence. However, both Israel and the UAE face external pressures due to their roles in the Iran conflict and the potential shifts in U.S. foreign policy with a change of administration. The two countries are under global scrutiny for alleged war crimes; Israel for actions in Gaza, with international warrants issued for Netanyahu and his former defense minister, and the UAE for purportedly supporting forces in Sudan accused of atrocities.