ALBAWABA- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a secret visit to the United Arab Emirates during the recent conflict with Iran, where he held talks with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, according to Netanyahu’s office.
Israeli officials described the meeting as a “historic breakthrough” in bilateral relations, highlighting growing strategic coordination between the two countries amid escalating regional tensions.
Details of the visit, including the exact timing and location, were not disclosed due to the sensitive nature of the trip. However, discussions reportedly focused on expanding defence and security cooperation against shared threats, particularly those posed by Iran, and on strengthening post-war strategic coordination.
The visit took place during the recent confrontation between Iran and the US-Israeli alliance, which began in late February 2026 and included Iranian missile and drone attacks targeting the UAE.
Following consultations between Netanyahu and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Israel deployed an Iron Dome air defence battery and Israeli personnel to the UAE to help defend critical infrastructure, according to Israeli and US officials.
The deployment marked the first operational use of the Iron Dome system outside Israel and the first publicly known deployment of Israeli troops on the territory of an Arab state.
Israeli officials said the system played a key role in intercepting incoming threats during the conflict, reflecting the rapid expansion of military coordination established under the Abraham Accords. Defence cooperation was publicly referenced by US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee at an event in Tel Aviv.
Huckabee praised the UAE as a model for regional cooperation under the Abraham Accords, stating that “Israel just sent them Iron Dome batteries and personnel to help them operate them.”
He described Israel-UAE ties as “extraordinary” and framed the cooperation as part of broader efforts to counter Iranian influence in the region. His remarks marked the first public confirmation by a US official of the Iron Dome deployment to the UAE.
The secret visit and the reported military coordination underscore the deepening strategic relationship between Israel and the UAE, which has evolved from economic normalization into direct security and defence cooperation.
