Netanyahu Makes Secret Abu Dhabi Trip, Meets UAE President Amid October 7 Warning Controversy

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secretly traveled to Abu Dhabi on Sunday, September 27, 2026, to meet with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, according to Israeli media sources. The meeting reportedly lasted around four hours, consisting mainly of a private conversation between the two leaders. Netanyahu's visit to Abu Dhabi came amid controversy over allegations that the UAE president had previously warned him about a potential Hamas attack 10 days before the October 7, 2023 massacre.

Israeli reports claim Netanyahu was unaware of the alleged warning, which would have come via phone call following Emirati intelligence and a purported message from Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. Netanyahu's office dismissed the allegations as a "malicious fabrication" and threatened legal action against Haaretz and the journalists who reported the story.

Neither Netanyahu's office nor the UAE Foreign Ministry released any public statements regarding the visit or its purpose. The discreet meeting took place amidst ongoing strategic ties between Israel and the UAE under the Abraham Accords. Both countries continued to maintain intelligence-sharing channels, although neither nation publicly confirmed the specific alleged conversation between Netanyahu and MBZ.