WEBDESK - NAYADAUR
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, according to the Emirates News Agency (WAM).
The two leaders discussed bilateral relations between the United Arab Emirates and Israel and ways to strengthen and further develop cooperation, WAM reported Monday.
Netanyahu’s visit to Abu Dhabi had not been publicly confirmed by the UAE at first. A senior Israeli official had earlier confirmed that the Israeli prime minister traveled to the UAE and met Sheikh Mohamed. The meeting was subsequently confirmed by WAM.
The meeting comes amid heightened regional tensions and ongoing diplomatic and security challenges in the Middle East. Netanyahu’s office said the visit focused on strengthening relations between the two countries and regional challenges.
The UAE and Israel established diplomatic relations in 2020 under the US-brokered Abraham Accords. The agreement opened the way for official diplomatic ties and expanded cooperation between the two countries across areas including trade, investment, technology and tourism.
The latest meeting comes as both countries remain engaged on regional issues, while the wider Middle East continues to face security tensions.
Reports from Israeli and regional media have also linked the meeting to discussions involving Iran and other regional developments. However, the official UAE account released by WAM did not provide details of the specific issues discussed beyond bilateral relations and strengthening ties.