Allies:
Saudi Arabia:
- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) shares a close and strategic alliance with Saudi Arabia, driven by shared interests, cultural affinities, and mutual security concerns.
- Both countries cooperate closely on regional issues, including counterterrorism, stabilizing oil markets, and promoting economic development in the Gulf region.
- The alliance between the UAE and Saudi Arabia is reinforced by their shared opposition to common threats, such as Iranian influence, Islamist extremism, and political instability in the Middle East.
Egypt:
- The UAE and Egypt have developed a strong partnership based on mutual interests in regional security, economic cooperation, and counterterrorism efforts.
- Both countries support each other diplomatically and economically, particularly in addressing common challenges facing the Arab world.
- The alliance between the UAE and Egypt is strategic, with cooperation on issues like the conflict in Libya, the crisis in Yemen, and efforts to counter Islamist extremism in the region.
Bahrain:
- The UAE maintains a close relationship with Bahrain, its neighbor in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), based on shared security concerns, cultural ties, and economic cooperation.
- Both countries collaborate on issues like defense, counterterrorism, and regional stability, as well as joint economic ventures and investment projects.
- The alliance between the UAE and Bahrain is strengthened by their shared commitment to the security and prosperity of the Gulf region, particularly in the face of external threats and internal challenges.
United States:
- The UAE has a strategic partnership with the United States, based on shared security interests, economic ties, and diplomatic cooperation.
- The United States views the UAE as a key ally in the Middle East, given its role in regional security, counterterrorism efforts, and support for U.S. military operations in the region.
- The alliance between the UAE and the United States encompasses various areas of cooperation, including defense, intelligence sharing, trade, investment, and cultural exchanges.
Enemies:
Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated groups:
- The UAE views the Muslim Brotherhood and its affiliated groups as a security threat, given their Islamist ideology, political activism, and potential to challenge the ruling regimes in the Arab world.
- The UAE has taken measures to counter the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood, including crackdowns on its members, restrictions on its activities, and support for governments that oppose the group.
- The UAE considers the Muslim Brotherhood a destabilizing force in the region and has worked to undermine its influence through diplomatic, political, and security means.
Some elements within Qatar:
- The UAE’s relationship with Qatar has been strained in recent years due to disagreements over regional issues, including Qatar’s support for Islamist groups like the Muslim Brotherhood and its perceived alignment with Iran.
- The UAE, along with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Egypt, imposed a diplomatic and economic blockade on Qatar in 2017, accusing it of supporting terrorism and destabilizing the region.
- While relations between the UAE and Qatar have thawed to some extent in recent years, tensions persist over issues like regional politics, security cooperation, and ideological differences.
