UAE confirms Netanyahu visit, says talks held with Sheikh Mohamed

The United Arab Emirates has confirmed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the country and held talks with President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, with the two leaders discussing bilateral relations.

The Emirati state news agency reported the meeting on Monday, a day after the visit took place. It was the first confirmation from Abu Dhabi of the trip.

Netanyahu's office said the prime minister travelled at the invitation of the UAE president. According to his office, the discussions centred on strengthening ties between the two countries and on regional challenges.

Three senior Israeli officials said the meeting on Sunday ran for six hours and focused on Iran.

The confirmation follows a dispute earlier this year over whether such a meeting had taken place. In May, Netanyahu's office said he had made a secret visit to the Gulf state and met the president, but the UAE denied that any meeting had occurred. A source familiar with the matter said at the time that Netanyahu and Sheikh Mohamed had met in Al-Ain, an oasis city in Abu Dhabi near the border with Oman, on March 26.

The UAE has moved to deepen its relationships with both the United States and Israel since coming under attack during the Iran war. Its ties with Israel, established under the 2020 Abraham Accords, give it a lever for regional influence and a distinct channel to Washington.