Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made an unannounced visit to Abu Dhabi on Sunday, where he met with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, according to a senior Israeli official cited by Reuters.
The visit was not publicly announced in advance, and there was initially no immediate comment from Netanyahu’s office or the UAE Foreign Ministry.
The meeting comes as Israel and the United Arab Emirates continue diplomatic relations established in 2020 under the Abraham Accords.
UAE state-linked reporting said the two leaders discussed bilateral relations and ways to strengthen and further develop ties between the two countries.
The visit also comes amid renewed attention over reports concerning communications between Sheikh Mohammed and Netanyahu before the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack.
Haaretz reported that the UAE leader had warned Netanyahu about a possible major Hamas operation, a claim Netanyahu has denied. The UAE has not commented on that specific report but has said the two countries maintain open and direct lines of communication.
