Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made an undisclosed visit to Abu Dhabi on September 27 and held a private meeting with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, according to Israeli media and a diplomatic source cited by The Jerusalem Post. Netanyahu reportedly traveled aboard a private executive jet, remained in the UAE for around four hours and returned the same day. Neither Netanyahu’s office nor the UAE government initially publicly announced the meeting or disclosed details of the discussions.
The secrecy surrounding the visit has drawn particular attention because it comes amid renewed controversy over what Mohammed bin Zayed allegedly knew and communicated before the October 7, 2023 attack. A Haaretz investigation reported earlier this month that the UAE president had warned Netanyahu around ten days before the attack that Hamas was preparing a major operation. The report further alleged that the warning was not passed to Israeli intelligence agencies or military officials. Netanyahu has denied receiving such a warning, while the UAE has not publicly confirmed the account.
The latest meeting therefore places Netanyahu and bin Zayed together again at a politically sensitive moment, with the alleged pre October 7 warning now becoming a major subject of public scrutiny. Reuters reported that the visit came amid questions over the reported warning, while Israeli reports subsequently claimed that Netanyahu sought clarification or a denial from the Emirati president regarding the allegations.
The controversy has intensified because the alleged warning concerns events immediately preceding the October 7 operation and the subsequent genocide in Gaza. According to the Haaretz account, the UAE president allegedly conveyed information about preparations for a major Hamas operation, raising questions about what information reached the Israeli security establishment before the attack.
The undisclosed visit also highlights the continuing depth of UAE relations with the Israeli occupation. Abu Dhabi and the Israeli entity established formal diplomatic relations under the US brokered Abraham Accords in 2020, developing diplomatic, economic and security links despite continued world wide opposition surrounding the relationship. The UAE has described its communication channels with the Israeli entity as open and direct.
Adding to the secrecy surrounding the latest trip, senior security officials accompanied Netanyahu, including Mossad Director Roman Gofman and National Security Adviser Shmuel Ben Ezra. Israel Hayom reported that the visit had been arranged in advance and was intended to remain secret until the delegation returned, after which a coordinated statement was reportedly expected. The UAE had still not publicly acknowledged the meeting in the immediate aftermath of the visit.
The meeting also follows an earlier dispute over another reported Netanyahu visit to the UAE during the confrontation involving Iran earlier this year. At that time Israeli occupation Netanyahu’s office said he had secretly met Mohammed bin Zayed, while the UAE Foreign Ministry rejected reports of such a visit unless confirmed through official Emirati channels. The latest meeting has consequently added another layer of secrecy to the relationship between Abu Dhabi and the Israeli occupation.
Netanyahu’s latest trip to Abu Dhabi therefore comes amid unresolved questions surrounding the alleged October 7 warning, the extent of communication between the two governments before the attack and the purpose of the latest private meeting. While the precise contents of the discussions remain undisclosed, the timing of the visit has intensified scrutiny of the UAE and Israeli occupation relationship.
