![Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu at the Pentagon in Washington, United States on July 9, 2025. [Celal Güneş - Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/AA-20250709-38517209-38517203-PETE_HEGSETH_BENJAMIN_NETANYAHU_MEETING_IN_WASHINGTON_DC-1.jpg?fit=920%2C613&ssl=1)
The UAE and Israel officially confirmed on Monday evening that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Abu Dhabi and met UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed. Israeli reports said the visit also included a secret meeting with representatives of several regional countries, including Saudi Arabia and states without diplomatic ties with Israel, to discuss Iran, the Houthis and air defence cooperation.
Netanyahu’s office said in a brief statement that the prime minister and his wife visited the UAE on Sunday “at the invitation of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed”. The visit focused on “strengthening relations between the two countries and regional challenges”.
Netanyahu was accompanied by the head of the National Security Council, the head of the Mossad, the military secretary and the foreign policy adviser, the statement said.
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The UAE’s official news agency, WAM, also confirmed that bin Zayed received Netanyahu during his visit, saying the two discussed “bilateral relations between the UAE and Israel and ways to strengthen and develop them”. It gave no further details.
The UAE did not release a photo of Netanyahu’s meeting with bin Zayed. However, it was the first time Abu Dhabi had officially confirmed a visit by Netanyahu.
Israeli reports later said the visit included a secret meeting with representatives of several regional countries, including states that do not have diplomatic relations with Israel. None of the countries named has confirmed the meeting or its participation.
Yedioth Ahronoth quoted sources familiar with the matter as saying the meeting was attended by representatives from Saudi Arabia, Morocco and Jordan, as well as representatives of other Gulf states. Mossad chief Roman Goffman reportedly arranged the meeting, while bin Zayed agreed to host it.
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