Israel claims secret Netanyahu-MBZ wartime talks, UAE fires back with denial

Israel claimed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secretly met UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed during the Iran war, calling it a "historic breakthrough." The UAE swiftly denied the claim on X, rejecting reports of any visit or undisclosed arrangements with Israeli officials.

In Short

• Israel claims historic breakthrough with UAE after secret meeting
• UAE denies visit or undisclosed arrangements with Israel
• Reports of Mossad chief visiting UAE for military coordination

Israeli Prime Minister’s office claimed Israel achieved a “historic breakthrough” with the United Arab Emirates after a secret meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during the Israel-Iran war, but the UAE swiftly denied that any such visit or undisclosed arrangements took place.

In a statement posted on X on Wednesday, Netanyahu’s office said the Israeli leader held talks with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, widely known as MBZ, in the Emirati city of Al-Ain on March 26, during the height of the regional conflict involving Iran.

According to the statement, the meeting lasted several hours and marked a major step forward in relations between Israel and the UAE amid escalating tensions in the Gulf.

The Israeli statement described the talks as an “historic breakthrough” in bilateral ties and said discussions focused on regional security and strategic coordination during the war.

However, the UAE foreign ministry quickly rejected the claim in an official statement posted on X, denying reports of Netanyahu visiting the country or any Israeli military delegation being received in the UAE.

“The United Arab Emirates denies reports circulating regarding an alleged visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the UAE, or receiving any Israeli military delegation in the country,” the ministry said.

The UAE added that its ties with Israel are conducted openly under the framework of the 2020 Abraham Accords and “are not based on non-transparent or unofficial arrangements.”

“Any claims regarding unannounced visits or undisclosed arrangements are entirely unfounded unless officially announced by the relevant authorities in the UAE,” the statement said.

The conflicting accounts emerged as details surfaced about growing security coordination between Israel and the UAE during the Iran conflict.

Reuters quoted that a source familiar with the matter said Mossad chief Dedi Barnea travelled to the UAE at least twice during the war to coordinate military-related matters between the two countries. The Wall Street Journal had earlier reported on Barnea’s visits.

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee also said this week that Israel deployed Iron Dome missile defence batteries and personnel to the UAE during the conflict to help defend against Iranian attacks.

Iran had targeted several Gulf states, including the UAE, in retaliation for US-Israeli strikes, with attacks reportedly hitting civilian infrastructure and energy facilities.

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