Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a positive meeting here with this wealthy Mideast nation’s top leaders Wednesday, but was met with pushback to President Trump’s proposal that the U.S. take control of the war-ravaged Gaza Strip and relocate Palestinians from the territory as part of a grand reconstruction project.

United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan told U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday that peace efforts in the region should be on the basis of a two-state solution for the Israel-Palestinian conflict,

Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the tour of the controversial Abrahamic Family House -image courtesy CSPAN. ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Marc

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, center, walks as he prepares to board an aircraft to depart to the U.S., in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025.

United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan told U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio that the UAE rejects “any attempts to displace the Palestinian people from their land” as Rubio made a visit Wednesday to Abu Dhabi.

President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Wednesday rejected any attempts to forcibly remove Palestinians from their land during a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Abu Dhabi, according to state media.

Rubio's talk with the ruler of Abu Dhabi comes as the U.S. also tries to continue a shaky ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.