In recent months, Israel has faced an unprecedented wave of international isolation following the war on Gaza. Diplomatic ties have been severed by several states, ambassadors have been expelled or withdrawn, and mounting political and economic pressure has tightened around Tel Aviv. Yet amid this growing isolation, one striking exception continues to stand out: the strength of Israeli Emirati relations. Abu Dhabi now appears to be among the closest Arab capitals to Israel.
To understand the depth of this alignment, a more fundamental question must be asked: when did these relations truly begin, and through which secret and public stages did they evolve into the strategic partnership visible today?
The Roots of Rapprochement: Closed Door Diplomacy (2010–2015)
The Abraham Accords did not emerge suddenly. They were the culmination of what could be described as a “quiet rapprochement” that effectively began around 2010. During that period, the foundations of the relationship were shaped behind closed doors through intelligence channels and covert diplomatic contacts aimed at testing intentions and building mutual trust.
The central driving force behind this relationship was the concept of a “shared enemy”. Both sides found common ground on two major issues.
The first was Iran’s nuclear programme and Tehran’s expanding regional influence, which both parties viewed as an existential threat requiring intelligence sharing and coordinated security positions.
The second was opposition to political Islamic movements that gained momentum after the Arab Spring uprisings. This convergence deepened the desire on both sides to establish a regional front capable of countering these political transformations.
Shadow Visits: From Bennett and Lapid to Netanyahu
Years before official agreements were signed in Washington, unofficial visits played a decisive role in shaping regional policy.
Intelligence reports indicate that both Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid conducted repeated secret visits to Abu Dhabi before 2020 while serving in senior governmental and security positions. These meetings reportedly focused on laying the logistical foundations for security and technological cooperation, alongside discussions concerning arms deals and surveillance systems that later paved the way for public diplomatic normalisation.
This covert trajectory did not stop after formal normalisation. In March 2026, Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly conducted a secret visit to the UAE amid highly volatile regional conditions.
The visit came during escalating confrontation with Iran and was reportedly aimed at direct military coordination, securing international energy and maritime routes, and consolidating joint air defence arrangements that now cover strategically sensitive parts of the region.
Diplomatic Breakthrough and Technological Cooperation
Between 2014 and 2016, relations witnessed major developments as the UAE began utilising advanced surveillance technologies and software supplied by Israeli companies, including the NSO Group, to strengthen digital security and monitor perceived threats.
In 2015, the first major diplomatic breakthrough emerged when Abu Dhabi approved the opening of an Israeli mission to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Although Emirati officials insisted at the time that the move did not constitute normalisation, the Israeli flag was officially raised on Gulf soil for the first time.
From Secrecy to Open Alliance: The Abraham Accords and Beyond
The year 2020 provided political and legal legitimacy to what had long been taking place behind the scenes.
The Abraham Accords were not merely framed as a peace agreement, but as the declaration of a comprehensive strategic partnership. By 2021, embassies had opened in both Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi, while public visits by senior Israeli officials accelerated, giving the alliance an institutional character that extended beyond changes in Israeli governments.
Between Palace Calculations and Public Sentiment
Despite the strength of the official alliance, the gap between state policy and public opinion across the Arab world continues to widen.
Across Arab societies, widespread anger emerged over the Emirati position, which many viewed as an abandonment of longstanding regional and Palestinian commitments during the height of the aggression on Gaza.
Inside the UAE itself, although public dissent remains heavily restricted, human rights reports and independent polling indicate a significant decline in support for the Abraham Accords among Emirati citizens. Many increasingly find themselves caught between state policy and their broader Arab and Islamic identity.
This silent tension represents a potential long term challenge to any alliance lacking genuine public support.
Alliances Raising Regional Alarm
The Israeli Emirati alliance cannot be separated from its broader regional implications, particularly regarding Egypt and Sudan.
Coordination between the two sides reportedly extends into highly sensitive regional files, including support for the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan, a development critics argue threatens Sudan’s unity while placing additional pressure on Egypt’s southern borders.
The partnership is also linked to support for separatist movements in Yemen and Somaliland, alongside controversial positions regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which remains a major concern for Egyptian water security.
Even within the Palestinian arena, accusations of coordination have surfaced regarding support for unlawful factions and armed groups inside Gaza aimed at destabilising internal conditions and creating alternative political structures viewed by critics as deeply suspicious.
A Strategic Axis Reshaping the Region
The Israeli Emirati alliance has evolved beyond temporary diplomatic normalisation into a strategic axis seeking to reshape the political map of the Middle East in line with the interests of both governments.
As regional tensions intensify and the divide between ruling elites and public opinion continues to grow, a critical question remains unresolved: how long can an elite driven alliance withstand rising public anger across the region?
