The Bedouin Realpolitik: Why the UAE’s Diplomacy Works
Summary: the true engine of the UAE's foreign policy is not modern theory but a “desert code,” meaning its 21st-century statecraft is fundamentally guided by traditional Bedouin principles like “Majlis Diplomacy” and ruthless pragmatism. This heritage drives its strategy of maintaining fluid relationships with all global powers for survival, focusing on long-term stability, diversification of alliances, and patient investment in the future.
We thank Abdalkareem Suleiman Al-Arjan for today’s newsletter. Abdalkareem is a Jordanian political analyst and columnist for Al-Arab newspaper in London. His work focuses on Middle Eastern geopolitics, state fragmentation, and the philosophy of post-conflict governance. His articles have been republished across several Arab and international outlets.
Ignore the skyscrapers for a moment. To understand how the United Arab Emirates navigates a world on fire - from the war in Ukraine to the fragmentation of the Middle East, you have to look past the glass facades of Dubai. The true engine of this country’s foreign policy isn’t found in modern political theory books. It is buried in the desert code.
Outsiders often mistake the UAE’s rapid modernisation for a total break from the past. They see the AI ministries and the Mars missions and assume the tribal identity has become mere folklore. They are wrong. The UAE has not discarded its heritage, it has scaled it up. The hardware is 21st-century statecraft, but the operating system is purely Bedouin.
This is most visible in what I call “Majlis Diplomacy.” In our part of the world, the Majlis is not just a room for socialising. It is a political institution designed for survival. In the desert you cannot afford to have permanent enemies because the environment itself is the enemy. You keep the tent flap open. You pour coffee for the traveller, the trader and even the rival.
We see this exact dynamic today on the global stage. The UAE talks to the Americans, the Chinese, the Iranians and the Israelis. Western analysts often call this “hedging” or criticise it as a lack of loyalty. They miss the point. In tribal logic, rigid ideology is a death sentence. Survival depends on relationships, not dogmas. This is why Abu Dhabi can facilitate prisoner swaps between Moscow and Kiev while hosting COP28. It is the role of the trusted mediator, the Sheikh who sits in the middle of the tent and ensures tempers don't boil over into bloodshed.
![]()
Emirati leaders meet a British official in 1955, from right to left: the British Political Agent in the Trucial States J.P. Tripp; Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the first vice president and second prime minister of the United Arab Emirates; Sheikh Saqr bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, and Saeed Naseem Abdul Latif [photo credit: Maryam Alsuwaidi]Consider the nuance in their dealings with Europe. While Washington focuses on security and Beijing on infrastructure, the UAE treats Europe as a partner in civilization and long-term legitimacy. Look closely at the strategic embrace of France or the energy pacts with Germany; this is not merely about buying weapons or selling gas. In the Bedouin mindset, you do not rely on a single provider for your tent’s stability. The Louvre Abu Dhabi is not just a museum, it is a decades-long handshake with Paris, a bind that survives changing presidents and shifting policies. It reflects an intuitive understanding that in a multipolar world, the ‘Old World’ offers a depth of influence that money alone cannot buy. It is the act of diversifying one’s allies just as a shepherd diversifies his grazing grounds - ensuring that if relations cool on one front, warmth remains on another.
There is also a ruthless pragmatism here that belongs to the nomad. In the desert vigilance is not paranoia; it is the prerequisite for safety. You need to know where the wolves are before they reach the tent. A Bedouin does not cling to a dry well out of sentimentality. When the water is gone, you move. You adapt or you die.
While many nations are paralysed by the fear of a post-oil world, the UAE is moving with an urgency that surprises observers. They are pivoting to logistics, clean energy and technology with a speed that borders on aggressive. This isn't just economic diversification; it is the ancestral instinct of moving the herd to greener pastures before the current one dries up. It is a survival strategy, not a luxury.
Crucially, this diplomacy is underpinned by the Bedouin virtue of Sabr (الصبر - patience). In the fast-paced cycle of Western election politics, decisions are often made for the next quarter or the next poll. But the desert teaches a different perception of time. A caravan does not sprint; it endures. This long-game mentality explains the UAE’s heavy investment in soft power and human capital, often baffling critics who demand immediate returns. Whether it is sending an astronaut to the International Space Station or spearheading global initiatives on tolerance, these are not vanity projects. They are the planting of Ghaf trees in the dunes, investments that provide shade and stability for generations who have not yet been born. It is a refusal to be merely a gas station for the world, aiming instead to become a laboratory for its future. This patience allows Abu Dhabi to weather diplomatic storms that would capsize less grounded vessels, maintaining a steady hand even when allies vacillate or adversaries provoke.
As a Jordanian observing from a neighbouring vantage point, the connection is clear. We share this bedrock. We know that in a neighborhood as rough as the Levant and the Gulf, you cannot survive as an island. You need a web of alliances. The UAE has managed to weave this web without getting tangled in it.
The West often asks whose side the UAE is on. It’s the wrong question. A state born from the desert is on the side of stability, because chaos is bad for business and dangerous for the tribe. They have taken the wisdom of the desert elders, put it in a suit and tie and brought it to the UN Security Council.
It turns out, the old ways work just fine in the new world.
Members can leave comments about this newsletter on the Arab Digest website.