• Israeli PM Netanyahu reportedly made a secret visit to UAE amid the Iran war.
• The UAE's foreign ministry denied the visit, calling the claims "entirely unfounded."
• Netanyahu's office claims the meeting resulted in a "historic breakthrough" in relations.
• The controversy has drawn responses from Iranian officials condemning the alleged ties.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced that he made a secret visit to the United Arab Emirates during the ongoing war with Iran, where he met with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. This alleged meeting was said to have occurred on March 26, with reports describing it as a “historic breakthrough” in bilateral relations, established through the Abraham Accords in 2020, according to South China Morning Post.

Contradicting Netanyahu's claims, the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a strong denial, asserting that “reports circulating” about such a visit were false. The ministry emphasized that UAE–Israel relations are “public” and operate under officially declared frameworks, dismissing suggestions of any clandestine dealings as "entirely unfounded." The foreign ministry also urged media outlets to ensure accuracy in reporting, as noted in a statement cited by India Times and NPR.

The alleged visit surfaced shortly after U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee revealed that Israel had dispatched Iron Dome air defense systems and personnel to the UAE amid the conflict with Iran. The Israeli government has confirmed these military deployments indicating an escalation in security cooperation between the two nations, as reported by Middle East Eye and Middle East Eye.

Following these developments, Iranian officials have expressed strong disapproval of the growing ties between the UAE and Israel. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Gulf states of complicity with Israel, warning them against forming military alliances during sensitive times, a sentiment that has been noted after Netanyahu's purported visit, according to Middle East Eye and South China Morning Post.

Moreover, Emirati scholar Abdulkhaleq Abdulla labeled Netanyahu a "war criminal" and rejected any premise of welcoming him in the UAE. He emphasized that any reports of a meeting were fabricated to serve Netanyahu’s political agenda, reiterating the UAE’s position on maintaining public diplomacy under the frameworks of the Abraham Accords. His remarks highlighted the region's sensitivities and the implications of the ongoing Iran war, as highlighted by Middle East Eye.