Israel thrusts reluctant UAE into open over defence ties

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Disclosures about Iron Dome batteries and secret meetings have exposed ties analysts say the UAE would rather handle ‘more discreetly’

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Tom HussainPublished: 1:00pm, 23 May 2026For months, the United Arab Emirates had denied Iran’s accusations that it was in league with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or hosting his country’s military personnel.

Then, US ambassador to Israel Mick Huckabee handed Tehran a propaganda gift and Abu Dhabi a diplomatic headache all in a single sentence.

Israel sent Iron Dome air defence batteries to the UAE amid the ongoing war on Iran to help protect it from Iranian attacks, Huckabee confirmed at a conference in Tel Aviv on May 12.Advertisement

A day later, Netanyahu made the UAE’s headache even worse.

On May 13, his office announced that the Israeli prime minister had secretly flown to the Gulf state in late March – during active bombing campaigns on Iran – to meet UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.Advertisement

“This visit has led to a historic breakthrough in relations between Israel and the UAE,” the statement declared.

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