Daijiworld Media Network – Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi, May 14: A sharp diplomatic disagreement surfaced on Thursday after Israel claimed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had secretly visited the United Arab Emirates, prompting an unusually strong public denial from Abu Dhabi within hours.

The Israeli Prime Minister’s office stated on X that Netanyahu had secretly travelled to the UAE during “Operation Roaring Lion” and met UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed.

The post further claimed that the visit had resulted in a “historic breakthrough” in relations between Israel and the UAE.

The announcement came at a time of heightened tensions in the Middle East following months of conflict involving Israel and Iran, with regional powers attempting to strengthen strategic alliances.

However, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs swiftly rejected the Israeli claim, issuing an official statement denying that Netanyahu had visited the country or that any Israeli military delegation had been received.

The ministry stated that reports regarding the alleged visit were false and stressed that relations between the UAE and Israel are conducted openly within the framework of the Abraham Accords.

It further clarified that bilateral ties are based on officially declared agreements and “not on non-transparent or unofficial arrangements.”

The UAE also stated that any claims regarding undisclosed visits or secret arrangements should not be considered credible unless officially announced by the relevant UAE authorities.

In a pointed remark, the ministry urged media organisations to maintain professionalism and avoid spreading unverified information or misleading political narratives.

Israeli authorities had not issued any response to the UAE’s denial at the time of reporting.