Claim: A video shows Oman’s Sultan disrespecting the UAE’s President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan by refusing to shake hands with him and calling him an “Israeli agent”.
Fact: The video, while authentic, is from 2020. According to some sources, it does not show disrespect but an Omani tradition to honour guests by refusing to shake their hands and accompanying them to the door.
On 16 April 2026, multiple Facebook users posted a reel showing Oman’s Sultan and Prime Minister Haitham bin Tariq apparently refusing to shake hands with a delegation of United Arab Emirates (UAE) leaders, including President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and another individual who appears to be Vice President Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan (archived here, here, here, and here).
The video is accompanied by the following caption:
“عمان کے السلطان هيثم بن طارق نے متحدہ عرب امارات کے محمد بن زايد کی بےعزتی خراب کر دی۔ کہا ہم اسرائیل کے ایجنٹوں سے ہاتھ نہیں ملا سکتے۔
[Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq has spoiled the dishonour of the UAE’s Mohammed bin Zayed, saying we cannot shake hands with Israeli agents.]”
The claim is referring to the UAE’s leaders as “Israeli agents” likely due to the normalisation of ties between the two countries since signing the Abraham Accords in 2020. The two nations agreed to allow visa-free travel soon after.
Additionally, the UAE purchased and used spyware technology made by the Israel-based NSO Group, a 2018 report said. According to an article published in 2025, it bought an aircraft protection system through a defense deal with Elbit.
During the 2026 war against Iran by the United States and Israel, which involved the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the UAE was reportedly ready to become a combatant and force the key shipping route open.
Fact or Fiction?
Soch Fact Check reverse-searched keyframes from the viral video and found the clip to be old and misrepresented.
We were able to trace the video to a YouTube channel called شخصيات عمانية, or Omani Personalities — the logo of which is visible in the bottom-right corner of the viral clip — where it was posted on 18 April 2024. It also appeared on TikTok here on the same date.
A further search with the question “Why did Oman leader Haitham bin Tariq refuse to shake hands with UAE leader Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan” led us to this 14 January 2020 article by Gulf News.
Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan met Sultan Haitham Bin Tariq at the time “to offer his deepest condolences on the demise of the late Sultan Qaboos”, according to Gulf News.
“When Sheikh Mohamed [Zayed Al Nahyan] was about to leave, Sultan Haitham refused to shake his hand. That’s when he was pulled by Sheikh Mohamed [Zayed Al Nahyan] and forced him to shake his hand.
“The Gulf region is steeped in tradition. […] Omani custom implies that the host honouring his guest puts his hand back as a sign that he refuses to shake his hand — until he sees him to the door,” the publication explained.
“In turn, Sheikh Mohamed declined the Sultan’s polite gesture to leave his other guests behind and accompany him out. Instead, Sheikh Mohamed asked Sultan Haitham to stay back with his other guests — as he offered that he and his delegation will leave on their own.”
We also found an article on Lovin’, a local news and entertainment channel, which stated that the act was “an incredible example of the Omani hospitality”.
The publication wrote, “The Omani tradition usually has the host honouring his guest by placing his hands back as a sign that he refuses to shake hands – until he accompanies him to the door. HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan respectfully declined and shook his hands regardless, politely implying he can tend to his other guests and not worry about it.”
These sources indicate that Sultan Haitham did not disrespect Sheikh Zayed but was just following local tradition.
Moreover, since this occurred in 2020, it predates Israel’s war in Palestine, Lebanon, and Iran, indicating that it is unrelated to “dishonour” or disrespect.
Soch Fact Check, therefore, concludes that the video is not only old but misrepresented as well.
Virality
Soch Fact Check found the claim circulating here, here, here, here, here, and here on Facebook, here, here, and here on Instagram, and here, here, and here on Threads.
It was also shared here on X (formerly Twitter).
Conclusion: The video is authentic and from 2020; however, it does not show disrespect but an apparent Omani custom to honour guests by refusing to shake their hands until accompanying them to the door.
Background image in cover photo: Oman Information Ministry’s Media Portal
To appeal against our fact-check, please send an email to appeals@sochfactcheck.com