Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Abu Dhabi on Sunday and met with United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, according to an Israeli official cited by Reuters. The meeting was later acknowledged by Netanyahu’s office, marking the first official confirmation of the visit.
The visit took place amid renewed attention over reports concerning an alleged warning from Sheikh Mohammed to Netanyahu before the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack. Netanyahu has denied receiving such a warning, while the UAE has previously declined to comment directly on the reported conversation.
According to reports, the meeting was held privately and details of the discussions were not initially made public. Sources cited by the Associated Press and other outlets said the issue of the alleged 2023 warning was among the matters surrounding the meeting.
Netanyahu’s office said the visit had been kept confidential for security reasons. The Israeli prime minister was reportedly accompanied by senior officials, including the Mossad director and other security officials.
The meeting comes as Israel and the UAE continue their diplomatic relationship established under the 2020 Abraham Accords. Both countries have maintained official channels of communication despite disagreements and tensions surrounding regional security issues.
The UAE’s Foreign Ministry had not initially commented on the reported visit, while later Israeli statements confirmed that Netanyahu had met Sheikh Mohammed in Abu Dhabi. The meeting is expected to draw further attention because of its timing and the ongoing controversy surrounding the events preceding October 7, 2023.
