UAE President Meets Netanyahu in Al Ain

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Al Ain, an oasis city in Abu Dhabi.

The meeting, confirmed by the Emirati state news agency WAM, was the first official UAE acknowledgment of Netanyahu’s visit.

According to WAM, the discussion lasted six hours and focused on strengthening relations and regional challenges, particularly Iran.

Earlier this year the UAE denied a meeting after the Israeli office claimed a secret visit in May.

The visit followed reports that the Emirati president had warned Netanyahu before Hamas’s October 7 attack, a claim Netanyahu denied.

The Israeli security service filed a complaint against a TV channel that reported the visit, citing concerns for the safety of the delegation.

The UAE’s ties with Israel, established through the 2020 Abraham Accords, have strengthened its regional influence and connection to Washington.