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The United Arab Emirates said connected Thursday (May 14, 2026) it "denies reports" that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secretly visited the country, aft Mr. Netanyahu's bureau said helium had met with the UAE President during the warfare with Iran.
Mr. Netanyahu's bureau said connected Wednesday (May 13, 2026) helium had "paid a concealed sojourn to the United Arab Emirates" during the war, "where helium met with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan".
The announcement came a time aft U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee announced that Israel had sent its Iron Dome aerial defence systems, positive unit to run them, to the UAE during the warfare with Iran.
While stopping abbreviated of confirming Mr. Huckabee's comments, Mr. Netanyahu's bureau said the sojourn "marked a historical breakthrough successful relations betwixt Israel and the United Arab Emirates".
The UAE did not straight contradict immoderate specified visit, referring to "reports" of a visit.
"The United Arab Emirates denies reports circulating regarding an alleged sojourn by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the UAE, oregon receiving immoderate Israeli subject delegation successful the country," its Foreign Ministry said successful a statement.
"The UAE reaffirms that its relations with Israel are nationalist and... are not based connected non-transparent oregon unofficial arrangements. Accordingly, immoderate claims regarding unannounced visits oregon undisclosed arrangements are wholly unfounded unless officially announced by the applicable authorities successful the UAE," it added.
Iran targeted the UAE much than immoderate different state during the war, which was sparked by U.S.-Israeli strikes connected the Islamic republic astatine the extremity of February.
Despite a ceasefire that came into effect past month, the UAE has since reported aggregate rocket and drone attacks from Iran.
The oil-rich United Arab Emirates is simply a apical U.S. state successful the portion and among the Arab nations with authoritative ties to Israel aft signing the Abraham Accords during U.S. President Donald Trump's archetypal word successful 2020.
