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UAE President receives Israel PM Netanyahu, discusses bilateral relations
The two sides discussed ways to strengthen and further develop ties between the UAE and Israel, the UAE’s state news agency WAM reported on Monday
- PUBLISHED: Mon 28 Sept 2026, 11:24 PM UPDATED: Tue 29 Sept 2026, 8:45 AM
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan received Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit to the UAE on Sunday.
The two sides discussed bilateral relations and ways to strengthen and further develop ties between the UAE and Israel, the UAE’s state news agency WAM reported on Monday.
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Netanyahu’s office said the Israeli prime minister travelled to the UAE with the visit focused on strengthening relations between the two countries and addressing regional challenges.
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The visit comes amid heightened tensions across the Middle East, as the UAE continues to emphasise dialogue, diplomacy and political solutions to regional conflicts.
Visit comes amid regional tensions
Netanyahu’s visit comes as the Middle East remains under pressure from the ongoing US-Iran conflict, which began with US and Israeli attacks on Iran in late February.
The conflict has since involved retaliatory strikes across the region and disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a major route for global energy supplies.
The UAE has itself faced Iranian attacks during the conflict while repeatedly stressing that it is not a party to the war and calling for efforts to prevent further escalation.
The latest visit also comes as Washington and Tehran signal a possible return to negotiations.
US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he expected talks with Iran to resume in the coming week, despite rejecting a truce proposal put forward by Tehran.
Iranian officials presented the proposal at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. It called for a seven-day truce followed by the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian officials.
UAE pushes for diplomatic solution
The UAE has repeatedly called for diplomacy and a lasting political solution to the region’s conflicts.
Dr Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President, has warned that the region cannot remain in a prolonged state of “no war, no peace”.
Speaking about the wider regional situation on September 27, Gargash said it was time to pursue diplomacy and work towards a lasting political solution, arguing that the current situation was not sustainable.
“We have to find a political solution to have a lasting solution to peace,” he said.
The UAE has continued to emphasise dialogue and diplomatic efforts as the preferred route to reducing tensions and addressing the region’s broader security challenges.
