Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid met with the United Arab Emirates' Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's awaits his own visit to the Gulf emirate, Hebrew media revealed on Tuesday.

The meeting was held in Italy, and lasted for three hours, according to the Israeli public broadcaster Kan.

Lapid reportedly stressed the importance of the bilateral ties to his Emirati counterpart. 

According to the Hebrew news site Ynet, Lapid pushed deepening strategic cooperation with the Gulf countries and the promotion of joint programs.

Netanyahu's own meeting to the UAE has been postponed several times for political and technical reasons.