How is the UAE reshaping the Middle East?

While traditionally, Saudi Arabia has held its position as the undisputed leader of the Arab world, the United Arab Emirates’ rapid and aggressive geopolitical ascent seems to be challenging this dynamic.

As President Donald Trump called on Saudi Arabia to normalise relations with Israel, reported by Maghrebi Weekly on 2nd June, it becomes crucial to understand regional developments. By shifting from a Riyadh-led consensus to a competitive and multipolar environment, driven by agile geoeconomics, digital infrastructure dominance, and muscular proxy interventions, the UAE could be actively reshaping Middle Eastern power dynamics.

Yemen became a key moment of divergence for the UAE, and encapsulates the fundamental differences between the UAE and Saudi Arabia in their foreign policies. While Saudi Arabia and the UAE entered into the 2015 Operation Decisive Storm together to battle Houthi rebels, deep strategic divides were exposed, with Saudi Arabia heavily focusing on air campaigns but the UAE deploying ground forces that succeeded in liberating southern port cities.

Maghrebi.org