The United Arab Emirates has played an increasingly enhanced regional role in recent years. Maintaining channels of communication with almost all countries in the Middle East and spearheading its wealth, the emirate has become a stable, strategic player with an important role in the Gulf region and internationally.
Ebtesam al-Ketbi, president of The Emirates Policy Center, who was recently in Cyprus for the Cyprus Forum, gave an interview to Phileleftheros, where she spoke about the moves the UAE has made to build bridges with the countries of the Middle East. “The UAE truly expresses the hopes and aspirations of the people of the country. From peacekeeping and conflict resolution to carbon neutrality and leadership in the COP negotiations, the UAE is leading the way in several changes being recorded in the region,” he noted.
At the same time, she also spoke about the changes taking place in the Middle East. We can see that despite the chronic rivalries that exist, there is a great willingness to work together. Hopefully, steps have been taken to normalize relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, and as Ebtesam al-Ketbi explained, her country seeks to strengthen peaceful coexistence and cooperation.
At the same time, she also referred to the good relations that the wealthy emirate and Cyprus have developed, which now include aspects of political, economic and defence cooperation. The two countries have shown interest in strengthening their economic relations. Agreements in the fields of energy, shipping and tourism have been concluded, encouraging mutual economic development. “The two countries have worked together in recent years to strengthen their bilateral relations based on mutual respect and principles of cooperation. Evidence of this is the increased number of agreements we see being signed, as well as exchanges of officials on official visits,” explained the president of The Emirates Policy Center.
As the founder of the Emirates Policy Center, can you share the organisation’s mission and some of its notable achievements or initiatives?
The Emirates Policy Center (EPC) has just marked 10 years of operations. We started with the desire to make a difference, and we have successfully influenced and enhanced the methodologies adopted by think tanks in our region. We have strengthened the methodology, quality, and authenticity, bridging the gap between knowledge and policy-making. The culture of excellence we built has paid off and is reflected in the consistently top rankings we have received throughout these years. In this process, the EPC has become one of the manifestations of the UAE’s soft power.
What role do you see the United Arab Emirates (UAE) playing in the geopolitics of the Middle East and beyond in the coming years?
The UAE is at the core of a transforming Middle East, especially the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). It truly embodies the hopes and aspirations of the people in this part of the world. From peacekeeping and conflict resolution to carbon neutrality and COP leadership, the UAE has been at the forefront of the positive changes witnessed in the region. The UAE’s role in regional groupings such as the Abraham Accords, the I2U2 or the West Asia Quad, and now BRICS testifies to the seriousness of global powers engaging with the UAE. I sincerely believe the UAE will do more to build collaborations and work for the greater good in the future. The recently-announced India-Middle East- Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) project is another example in which the UAE will play a pivotal role.
How will the normalisation of relations between the UAE and Saudi Arabia with Qatar evolve? Could a strong alliance be formed that is pivotal for the Middle East?
Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar are all part of the GCC and Arab League frameworks. Yes, we have had our differences, but those differences have to be set aside in the larger interest of the region and our people. Challenges that we collectively face are far more significant. For instance, regional and maritime security, food and energy security, terrorism and extremism, and climate change require collective efforts on an immediate basis. Only time will tell whether a strong alliance will be pivotal for the Middle East, but there are indeed more things that unite us than those that divide us.
The Middle East is a region of complex alliances. How do you see Saudi Arabia and Iran navigating their relationships with key regional players like Turkey, Israel, and the Gulf states?
The Middle East is complicated and requires deft handling. In their relations with countries in the region and beyond, all these players you mentioned will try to safeguard their countries’ interests. However, regional players are also realising that finding solutions within the region is the need of the hour, as outside intervention has not always helped matters. Even if these powers agree on contentious issues, they can build a broad consensus on a long-term regional agenda. So, complexities remain, but alliances are the way to overcome the challenges. While de-escalation is about taking a chance toward peace and reconciliation, the region seems to have collectively realised that economic diplomacy is more effective than hard power in improving relations even with regional rivals.
Iran has been involved in various proxy conflicts in the region. What steps do you think are necessary to address and potentially resolve these conflicts?
Making Iran accountable and responsible is the biggest challenge from an immediate neighbourhood perspective. The West has, for years, tried its carrot-and-stick policies with economic sanctions and the nuclear deal. They have produced mixed results. The good news is that a realisation is setting in that rapprochement is the way to go, and the Saudi-Iran normalisation is its first step. Much will depend on how Tehran responds to its domestic constituency and outside pressure. We can only continue to engage and hope for the best for now.
The global energy landscape is shifting towards renewables and sustainability. How will the Gulf countries, which traditionally rely on fossil revenue, deal with this change?
The United Arab Emirates was the first MENA country to launch a national drive to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, with its Net Zero by 2050 strategic initiative. The UAE Net Zero 2050 strategic initiative aligns with the Paris Agreement, which calls on countries to prepare long-term strategies to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and limit the rise in global temperature to 1.5 C compared to pre-industrial levels. We see carbon capture and storage (CCS) as a means to mitigate climate change by capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) from large point sources such as power plants and storing it safely underground instead of releasing it into the atmosphere. We are treating the COP28 currently held in the UAE as a milestone moment when the world will take stock of its progress on the Paris Agreement. We will work to ensure that the world, not just the region, responds to the GST with a clear action plan. Just a few days ago, Dr Sultan al-Jaber, President-Designate of this year’s COP28, said the oil and gas industry must prepare for an inevitable “phase down” of fossil fuels. He warned that the sector should not be seen as working against decarbonization efforts. In July, the state-owned oil company ADNOC said that it would aim to achieve net zero emissions from its operations by 2045 rather than 2050 and cut methane emissions to zero by 2030.
The UAE and Cyprus have developed closer relations in recent years. What factors have contributed to the strengthening of ties between these two countries?
The history of our relations goes back to the 1960s. However, since the two countries established official diplomatic ties in 2007, we have witnessed rapid economic cooperation. The two countries have worked in recent years to strengthen and develop bilateral relations based on mutual respect and cooperation principles. This is evident in the increased signed agreements and the exchange of official high-level visits at the parliamentary, ministerial, and presidential levels. This relationship has much potential and will progress.
The UAE has been involved in diplomatic initiatives in the Middle East, including the normalisation of relations with Israel through the Abraham Accords. How might these diplomatic efforts affect the UAE’s relationships with Cyprus and other Mediterranean countries?
The UAE follows a moderate foreign policy reinforcing balanced relationships with the international community. It adheres to the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries and the pursuit of dialogue and, whenever possible, peaceful resolution of disputes, together with support for international institutions, such as the United Nations. Adherence to this policy means its relations with one country do not have a bearing on its other relations. The Abraham Accords materialised due to the practical manifestations of the new thinking that Gulf and Arab leaders have espoused to tackle regional challenges. It introduced a cooperation project in the Gulf, the Mediterranean, the Red Sea, and the Indian Ocean, with strategic dimensions. It will profoundly impact the Gulf region’s relationship with the Mediterranean countries.
Cyprus is a member of the European Union. How does its EU membership impact its relationship with the UAE and the broader Middle East region?
Well, the UAE is the European Union’s increasingly important economic partner. It is the EU’s first export destination and investment partner in the MENA region and also serves as an important regional trade and logistics hub for EU operators. The EU remains the UAE’s second most important trading partner. So, a greater economic exchange between the UAE and the European Union is good news for the UAE-Cyprus relations. It amalgamates a multi-lateral relationship with the bilateral framework between the two sides.
The UAE has been diversifying its economy and investing in sectors like technology and renewable energy. Do you see opportunities for knowledge transfer and collaboration between the UAE and Cyprus in these areas?
Economic diversification is an imperative that doesn’t require reiteration. Each country is undertaking this exercise based on its assets, resources, and liabilities. That said, the areas you have already outlined are worth mentioning. In July this year, the UAE announced plans to triple its renewable energy supply and invest up to US$ 54 billion over the next seven years to meet its growing energy demands. It also includes investments in low-emission hydrogen fuel and developing infrastructure for electric vehicles. Similarly, regarding technology, a natural synergy exists between Cyprus and the UAE, considering the pathbreaking developments in this realm.