ABU DHABI – The United Arab Emirates has officially denied reports regarding a “secret visit” by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a subsequent meeting with President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The denial follows a statement from the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office claiming that Netanyahu traveled to the UAE covertly during the ongoing conflict with Iran to hold high-level talks.
Conflicting Narratives
On Wednesday, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office described the alleged visit as a “historic milestone” in bilateral relations. This claim surfaced shortly after the U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, remarked that Israel had deployed its Iron Dome defense system, along with personnel, to the UAE during the escalation with Iran.
While Netanyahu’s office did not explicitly confirm the deployment of the defense system, they used the timing to highlight the purported diplomatic mission to Abu Dhabi.
Abu Dhabi’s Firm Rejection
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a swift rebuttal, stating that reports of a visit by the Israeli Prime Minister or the reception of any Israeli military delegation are unfounded.
“The United Arab Emirates denies reports circulating regarding a visit by the Israeli Prime Minister or the presence of Israeli military delegations in the country,” the ministry statement read.
Diplomatic observers note that the UAE’s firm stance aims to maintain its strategic neutrality as regional tensions remain high.
