Published On 27/9/2026
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آخر تحديث: 23:51 (توقيت مكة)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently made a secretive visit to Abu Dhabi, where he met with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. According to Channel 12 in Israel, Netanyahu’s trip occurred on Sunday and was characterised by its discreet nature.
Details of the Visit
Sources reported that Netanyahu departed from Israel on a private jet early in the morning, spending the entire day in the United Arab Emirates before returning that evening. It has been noted that Netanyahu and his accompanying delegates flew to the UAE in multiple aircraft, indicating the careful planning surrounding the visit. The discussions held during this meeting primarily took place privately, and the Prime Minister’s office has declined to provide further details.
Context and Timing
The visit comes as Israel approaches parliamentary elections in approximately a month and follows just two days after Netanyahu’s attendance at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Notably, no official comments have been issued from the Emirati side as of yet regarding the details of this meeting.
Concerns Over Security Warnings
Amidst this backdrop, a report from the Israeli newspaper Haaretz earlier in September has sparked controversy. The report claimed that during a phone call on September 23, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed had warned Netanyahu about Hamas’s intentions to carry out an attack. However, it has been alleged that Netanyahu disregarded this warning and did not inform senior security officials. His office has since rejected these claims, asserting that Netanyahu did not receive any warnings from the UAE prior to the October 7 attack, and suggested that any relevant intelligence would have been communicated through established channels.
Official Stance from the UAE
On September 8, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement noting that the government refrains from commenting on media reports or speculations about discussions among government leaders. The ministry reasserted that channels of communication between UAE and Israeli officials have remained open and direct since the establishment of relations over five years ago, emphasising that “when necessary, all relevant intelligence has been and continues to be exchanged among the concerned parties.” However, the statement did not elaborate on the media reports referenced.