UAE denies Netanyahu's claims of a secret visit to Abu Dhabi during confrontation with Iran

The United Arab Emirates has refuted the Israeli narrative regarding an unannounced visit by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the capital Abu Dhabi amidst the recent military escalation with Iran. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed in an official statement issued today, Thursday, the inaccuracy of the circulating information about this visit, emphasizing that the state has not received any Israeli military delegations on its territory during the past period.

This categorical Emirati denial comes in response to what Netanyahu's office announced on Wednesday, where the latter claimed to have made a 'secret visit' that included a meeting with the Head of State, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The Israeli side claimed that these movements took place within the framework of what it described as 'Operation Roaring Lion,' which coincided with direct confrontations between Israel and Iran, describing it as a historical breakthrough in the path of bilateral relations.

The Emirati Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified in its statement that the state's foreign policy is characterized by transparency, noting that relations with Israel are 'declared relations' and are not managed through secret channels or hidden arrangements. The Ministry also called for not relying on any news related to official visits unless issued by the competent authorities in the UAE, in a clear reference to refuting the narrative issued by the Israeli Prime Minister's office.

In a related context, statements by the US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, had sparked widespread controversy after he revealed that Israel had supplied the UAE with 'Iron Dome' air defense systems. Huckabee indicated that Tel Aviv had sent military experts to operate these systems with the aim of protecting Emirati facilities from aerial threats that emerged during the recent confrontation with Tehran, which Abu Dhabi has not confirmed.

The region has witnessed a dangerous escalation since February 28th, following American and Israeli strikes targeting sites within Iranian territory. As a result, the UAE was subjected to a series of missile and drone attacks launched from Iran, which put the security of the region to a difficult test and made the Gulf states a theater for the repercussions of this direct conflict.

The United Arab Emirates is considered a strategic ally of the United States in the region and has made significant strides in normalizing its relations with Israel since the signing of the 'Abraham Accords' in 2020. Despite this diplomatic path, Abu Dhabi is keen to keep its movements within a declared official framework, away from the political exploitation that some Israeli parties try to practice by leaking news of secret visits.

Observers believe that the contradiction between the Emirati and Israeli narratives reflects the sensitivity of the current regional situation, especially in light of the continued mutual threats between Tehran and Tel Aviv. While Netanyahu tries to portray his relations with Arab countries as major security achievements, the UAE insists on regulating the pace of this relationship in a way that serves its national interests without being drawn into undeclared military arrangements that could further complicate the scene.

The UAE's relations with Israel are declared and are not based on secrecy or hidden arrangements, and any claims to the contrary are baseless.