Former Shin Bet director Ronen Bar and his wife were evacuated from the United Arab Emirates and returned to Israel after Israeli security agencies received a warning of a possible threat against him, according to Israeli broadcaster Channel 13. The report, published Monday, said the operation was carried out urgently. Israeli newspaper Maariv separately reported that the evacuation followed what it described as an unusual security alert during the couple’s stay in the UAE.
Channel 13 reported that the warning was linked to intelligence suggesting a possible Iranian threat targeting Bar while he was in the country. The broadcaster said the concern centered on the risk that the former intelligence chief could be targeted while attending a private security gathering.
According to Channel 13, Bar had been attending a private security conference in the UAE that was reportedly attended by senior intelligence and security officials from multiple countries. The broadcaster reported that the event was allegedly hosted by UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
That detail was disputed. An Israeli source with ties to the UAE, cited by Channel 13, denied that Abdullah bin Zayed had hosted such a gathering or met with Bar, calling the claims unfounded. The conflicting accounts have not been resolved publicly.
Maariv reported that the decision to evacuate Bar and his wife was made immediately after the alert was received, and that the operation was carried out discreetly. Both outlets said the incident was not disclosed publicly for an extended period before details emerged this week.
Neither Bar nor UAE authorities have commented on the reports. Israeli officials have not issued a formal statement confirming or denying the account.
A Channel 13 source with ties to the UAE said claims that Abdullah bin Zayed hosted the alleged conference or met with Bar were “unfounded,” according to the broadcaster’s reporting. Beyond that denial, no named Israeli or Emirati official has spoken publicly about the matter, and Quarlds was unable to identify any additional on-record statements from government spokespeople as of publication.
Regional and global impact
The reports surface at a moment when Israeli-Emirati security cooperation has drawn renewed attention. Middle East Monitor noted in earlier coverage this month that a UAE security delegation reportedly visited Israel secretly during the Iran war, pointing to continued security contacts between the two governments despite public silence on details. Neither government has confirmed the scope or nature of that cooperation on record.
The UAE established formal diplomatic relations with Israel under the 2020 Abraham Accords. Reports of threats against a former Israeli intelligence chief on Emirati soil, even if unconfirmed by either government, touch on the durability of that security relationship at a time when Iran-linked tensions across the region remain elevated.
Background
Ronen Bar served as director of Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security service, before leaving the post. The agency is responsible for domestic intelligence, counterterrorism and protecting senior Israeli officials. The UAE and Israel normalized relations in 2020, and security and intelligence contacts between the two countries have continued since, according to Israeli media reporting, though neither government routinely discloses such contacts publicly. Iran has been named in Israeli media as a potential source of threats against current and former Israeli officials traveling abroad. The reports of Bar’s evacuation come amid wider regional tension involving Iran, Israel and Gulf states following recent military confrontations referenced in Israeli media coverage.
What happens next
Neither the Israeli government nor UAE authorities have indicated they will issue an official statement on the reported evacuation. Channel 13 and Maariv have not stated whether further details will be released. The dispute over whether Abdullah bin Zayed hosted the alleged gathering remains unresolved, with no indication from either side that a clarification is forthcoming. Quarlds will update this report if Israeli or Emirati officials issue formal comment.
