Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar paid a rare official visit to the United Arab Emirates on Sunday, where he met with his Emirati counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan to discuss the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Gideon Sa'ar and Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan © X
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar paid a rare official visit to the United Arab Emirates on Sunday, where he met with his Emirati counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan to discuss the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The high-level meeting comes amid ongoing war in the Gaza Strip and reflects efforts to maintain regional diplomatic engagement despite strained circumstances.
According to a statement from the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two ministers focused particularly on “the deepening humanitarian situation in Gaza” and explored “regional and international efforts aimed at achieving a ceasefire, facilitating a truce agreement, and securing the release of hostages.”
Ties between Israel and the UAE were formalized under the 2020 Abraham Accords. However, senior-level reciprocal visits have become increasingly rare since the outbreak of the current conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Following the meeting in Abu Dhabi, Minister Sa’ar shared a message on social media platform X, expressing optimism about future cooperation:
“Major challenges lie ahead in the Middle East, but there are partners for a better future of cooperation and stability. Thank you to our hosts!”
The visit is seen as part of Israel’s broader push to maintain diplomatic channels in the region while seeking allies in mediating a path out of the war.
Israeli forces have reportedly taken control of Beaufort Castle, known in Arabic as Qal'at al-Shaqif, a strategically commanding hilltop fortress in the Shebaa Heights of southern Lebanon, according to reports emerging on Sunday.
The United Arab Emirates posted robust economic growth of 6.2% in 2025, with real GDP reaching 1.9 trillion AED ($517 billion), according to data released Sunday by the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre.
The United States welcomed "constructive" discussions between Israeli and Lebanese military delegations at the Pentagon on Friday, following nine hours of talks aimed at advancing the security track of ongoing peace negotiations between the two countries.
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