ABU DHABI: After the United Arab Emirates denied reports of a covert late-March visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, open-source intelligence accounts published flight tracking data that they said showed two private jets flying from Tel Aviv to Al Ain on March 26.
According to the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, claims of a secret trip by the Israeli leader are “categorically false.” The statement, issued shortly after the allegations emerged on social media, did not address the flight data directly. Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office has not publicly commented on the reports.
Hours after the UAE’s denial, several intelligence monitoring accounts, including @EGYOSINT, published screenshots of flight paths and transponder data dated March 26, 2026, corresponding to 6 Farvardin 1405 in the Persian calendar.
The data identifies two Bombardier BD-700 Global 6000/6500 aircraft:
– M-ARVA: Registered in the Isle of Man, hex code 424B21, shown departing the Tel Aviv area at 21:17:13 UTC.
– M-ULTI: Also Isle of Man-registered, hex code 43EAD6, with activity logged at 15:00:22 UTC on the same date.
The mapped routes show both aircraft transiting Jordanian and Saudi airspace before landing in Al Ain, in the eastern region of Abu Dhabi Emirate. Al Ain International Airport is frequently used for diplomatic and private flights due to its relative discretion compared to Abu Dhabi or Dubai.
Flight tracking records indicate the presence and route of the two jets, but do not confirm the identity of passengers. Private aircraft are often chartered by governments, corporations, or individuals, and manifests are not publicly disclosed.
The UAE and Israel normalized diplomatic relations in 2020 under the Abraham Accords. Since then, ministerial and business delegations have traveled openly between the two states. However, visits by heads of government are typically announced in advance, making unconfirmed trips a subject of regional scrutiny.
The reports come amid heightened regional diplomacy tied to Gaza ceasefire negotiations and broader security coordination. Neither the UAE nor Israel has confirmed any meeting between officials on March 26.
Aviation analysts note that flights between Israel and the UAE now occur regularly since the 2020 normalization, and private jets with Isle of Man registrations are commonly used for business and diplomatic travel in the region.
At this time, no independent government source has verified the purpose of the March 26 flights or the presence of any Israeli officials on board.
