Reports of an expanded Abu Dhabi meeting involving officials from several countries have raised questions over regional security, Iran and Gulf defence cooperation.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s meeting with United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi has drawn wider regional attention following reports that officials from several countries took part in an expanded session.
The two leaders met Sunday during Netanyahu’s previously unannounced visit to the UAE. The meeting was later confirmed by both sides, with the Emirates News Agency (WAM) reporting that the discussions focused on bilateral relations and ways to strengthen and develop ties.
According to Israeli media reports, the meeting took place in two stages. The first involved Netanyahu and Sheikh Mohamed in a direct session, followed by an expanded meeting that reportedly included representatives from several countries.
The reported participants included officials from Israel, the UAE, the United States, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Egypt, Kuwait, Bahrain, Libya and Oman. However, the reported 10-country gathering has not been publicly confirmed by all the countries named. Israeli media reports have also differed over which countries were represented.
The reports have attracted attention because of the regional security issues said to have been discussed. According to those reports, the expanded talks covered security and intelligence cooperation, Iran, Yemen’s Houthi movement and possible regional defense arrangements.
Another reported focus was stronger regional air-defense coordination against shared threats. Israeli media also reported discussions involving security assistance for Saudi Arabia and broader cooperation between Israel and Gulf states.
The reports further cited a proposal for an alternative oil-shipping route that could reduce dependence on the Strait of Hormuz, a major energy transit corridor. Such a proposal would carry strategic significance amid continuing regional tensions.
However, Saudi participation in the expanded meeting has been disputed. Saudi Arabia has denied that any representative attended the Netanyahu-Sheikh Mohamed meeting. A Saudi source told Arab News that reports of Saudi participation were untrue.
The confirmed bilateral meeting comes as Israel and the UAE continue diplomatic relations established under the 2020 Abraham Accords. The UAE has described the talks as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral ties and address regional challenges.
The meeting also took place amid broader tensions involving Iran, the Houthis and Gulf security. With conflicting reports over the participation of other governments, details of the reported expanded discussions remain unclear.
For now, the publicly confirmed element is the Netanyahu-Sheikh Mohamed meeting. Claims about a broader 10-country gathering remain based primarily on media reports and have not been officially acknowledged by all countries named.
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