In a significant development, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asserted that he made a clandestine visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) during the height of the conflict with Iran to meet with the UAE’s president, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Netanyahu’s office described the meeting as a historic step forward in the relationship between Israel and the UAE. The leaders reportedly convened on March 26 in Al Ain, a city near the Oman border, for several hours of discussion.
In addition to Netanyahu’s visit, it was revealed that David Barnea, the director of Mossad, Israel’s national intelligence agency, undertook multiple visits to the UAE during the conflict. These trips aimed to synchronize military efforts, underscoring the deepening collaboration between the two nations. Further cementing this burgeoning alliance, the United States ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, announced that Israel had extended its Iron Dome air defense system to the UAE, alongside military personnel to operate it, during the conflict with Iran.
However, the UAE’s foreign ministry has refuted claims of Netanyahu’s visit, labeling them as unfounded. Despite these denials, reports have emerged that the UAE conducted its own covert strikes against Iran, including an assault on a refinery on Lavan Island in early April. These actions were purportedly in retaliation for Iranian strikes on UAE oil infrastructure. The relationship between Israel and the UAE has evolved rapidly since 2020 when the UAE became the first Islamic nation to normalize relations with Israel, spearheading the “Abraham Accords” alongside Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan.
The UAE has distinguished itself from other Arab nations by forging a deeper alliance with Israel, moving beyond mere normalization. It has also embarked on an independent foreign policy path, notably exiting the Saudi-led OPEC, which has significantly affected the oil cartel’s influence on global markets. While both Israel and the UAE have strengthened ties with the Trump administration, their involvement in the Iran conflict exposes them to potential shifts in U.S. policy and leadership, facing intense scrutiny over alleged war crimes.
Both nations are under international examination for their actions during the conflict. Israel faces accusations of genocide in Gaza, with arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court for Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant. Meanwhile, the UAE is accused of supporting the Rapid Support Forces, implicated in severe human rights violations in Sudan, although it denies these charges despite substantial evidence.
