This photo released by the Israeli Prime Minister's Office on March 17, 2026 shows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C) speaking on the phone. (Xinhua)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a secret visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and met with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during the war with Iran, his office said on Wednesday.

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"The visit led to a historic breakthrough in relations between Israel and the UAE," Netanyahu's office said in a statement, without providing details.

It is Netanyahu's first known visit to the UAE and the second time an Israeli prime minister has visited the Gulf country.

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The announcement came amid media reports of recent visits to the UAE by Israel's top security officials, signaling deepening security ties between the two countries, which first normalized ties in 2020.

Mossad intelligence agency chief David Barnea visited the UAE at least twice in March and April to coordinate on the war with Iran, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing Arab officials.

Israel's state-owned Kan News reported that Shin Bet internal security agency chief David Zini had also visited the UAE.