Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced a covert visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) during the height of the conflict with Iran, claiming to have met with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. According to Netanyahu’s office, this meeting, which took place on March 26 in the oasis city of Al Ain near the Oman border, marked a significant step forward in the relations between the two nations. Reports suggest that Mossad Director David Barnea also traveled to the UAE at least twice during this period to coordinate military actions, highlighting the evolving alliance between the Middle Eastern countries.
Despite these claims, the UAE’s foreign ministry has dismissed reports of Netanyahu’s visit as unfounded. In a related development, it has been reported that the UAE conducted its own military operations against Iran, including a strike on a refinery on Lavan Island in early April, as a response to Iranian attacks on Emirati oil facilities. Meanwhile, the U.S. ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, revealed that Israel has shared its Iron Dome air defense system with the UAE, further solidifying the budding partnership.
The growing ties between Israel and the UAE can be traced back to the 2020 Abraham Accords, where the UAE became the first Islamic country to normalize relations with Israel, followed by Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan. The UAE has since taken more robust steps than its counterparts, forming what appears to be an informal alliance with Israel. In a move signaling its independent foreign policy ambitions, the UAE recently exited the Saudi-led OPEC, thereby diminishing the cartel’s global influence.
Both Israel and the UAE have established close connections with the Trump administration, strengthened by their engagement in the conflict with Iran. However, these relationships might face challenges with potential shifts in U.S. administration and policy directions. Moreover, both nations are under scrutiny for alleged war crimes; Israel faces accusations of genocide in Gaza, with international arrest warrants issued for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The UAE is suspected of supporting the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan, accused of mass atrocities, though the Emirati government denies these allegations despite substantial evidence.
