Netanyahu's boast of secret visit to UAE sparks awkward denial from Abu Dhabi

Netanyahu's boast of secret visit to UAE sparks awkward denial from Abu Dhabi Submitted by Oscar Rickett on Thu, 05/14/2026 - 12:50 Israeli prime minister's office says he met secretly with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed. The revelation shows deepening relations amid war with Iran Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference amid the war on Iran, in Jerusalem, 19 March 2026 (Reuters) Off Israel and the United Arab Emirates released conflicting statements on Wednesday night about a “secret” meeting that took place weeks into the war on Iran between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan. The disagreement has put the alliance between the two countries under the spotlight, as the Iranian foreign minister also accused the UAE on Thursday of being "directly involved" in the war on Iran.