Israel's Netanyahu held meeting in UAE with president during Iran war: PM office

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met secretly with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during Iran conflict, according to PM office.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu participated in the state memorial ceremony for the fallen of the Iron Swords War on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem on October 16, 2025. His office announced that he held a "secret" meeting with the president of the United Arab Emirates during the ongoing war with Iran.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Netanyahu's office confirmed that the prime minister paid a secret visit to the UAE while Israel was engaged in Operation 'Lion's Roar'. During this operation, which began shortly after US-Israeli strikes against Iran at the end of February, Netanyahu met with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

This announcement comes just one day after US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee revealed that Israel had sent its Iron Dome air defense systems and personnel to operate them in the UAE during the conflict. While Netanyahu's office did not explicitly confirm Huckabee’s comments, it emphasized that the meeting marked a "historic breakthrough" in relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.

During the war with Iran, which began after US-Israeli strikes on February 28, the UAE was targeted more than any other country by Iranian missile attacks. Despite a ceasefire that took effect last month, the UAE has reported multiple instances of missile and drone strikes from Iran since then.

In response to these developments, Anwar Gargash, an adviser to the UAE president, stated earlier today that the UAE remains committed to political solutions and diplomacy amid regional tensions. He stressed the country's right to defend its sovereignty while emphasizing that relations between Arab states and Iran should not be based on confrontation.

UAE officials have also made clear that they did not seek conflict or wish for it to occur, adding that their aim has always been to avoid war and promote peaceful resolutions through dialogue and diplomacy.