From Abu Dhabi to Brussels: Europe’s Growing Focus on the Muslim Brotherhood and Cross-Border Security

This is the debate on countering extremism taking a transnational turn. Challenges for governments to establish verifiable threats, combat the financing of extremists and enhance safeguards, whilst upholding the rule of law in both respects of the UAE’s preventive-security stance and the European Parliament’s 8 October resolution on Islamist entryism and Muslim Brotherhood influence.

The Times of Israel addresses issues with intelligence sharing recently. It takes a case study example of the Flydubai FZ1073 incident as its starting point and suggests that having various security procedures could make threat assessment challenging, beyond borders. The investigation continues and highlights the importance of separating preliminary allegations from substantiated findings.

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Preventive-Security Approach UAE

The secure system in the UAE encompasses counter-radicalisation, control of finances, as well as collaboration with other international bodies. Preventing violent extremism is the priority of Hedayah and combating extremist propaganda and recruitment is the priority of Sawab Center. Both show an important emphasis on law enforcement with a strong component of prevention and counter-messaging.

Other elements include financial security. In February 2024, the UAE successfully completed its action plan to address issues identified in its anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorist financing controls and was removed from the list of countries under heightened monitoring by the Financial Action Task Force. The conclusion of the lesson is that financial transparency and international co-operation play a part in security.

But cooperation is more than just the exchange of information. Governments must have established guidelines on sharing intelligence between themselves, as well as verification and safeguards against false intelligence. Restricted access, data retention policies and procedures for correcting erroneous data records or challenging the data records should be a part of any proposed cross-border security register.

Understanding the Muslim Brotherhood Debate

The Muslim Brotherhood still has a history of its own playing a role in international security issues. The UAE categorises the movement and some organisations as security threats, and other countries treat the movement and some organisations differently based on their national legislation and assessments of the organisations.

A worthwhile discussion has to separate the networks and ideology of the movement from the actions of individual participants and related organisations. Failure to provide evidence and legal analysis of an allegation for incitement, unlawful financing or support for violence will not help silence attacks. This distinction is important for counter-extremism policies and those that protect freedom of faith, freedom of expression and freedom of association must exist in harmony.

Brussels and the European Policy Debate

These concerns are put on the policy agenda in the resolution of the European Parliament calling for an EU strategy to battle Islamist entryism and the power of the Muslim Brotherhood network adopted on 8 October 2026.

The resolution is not the same as an outright ban on the Muslim Brotherhood by the EU, which is part of a much greater agenda. They have to be considered in the light of the text chosen and the powers of the EU member states. Reporting should separate the provisions of the resolution and analyses from any political discussion or commentary on the importance of the resolution.

Towards Shared Security Standards

There is a single question that everyone needs to have an answer to, from Abu Dhabi to Brussels, on how governments can cooperate in the face of threats that extend beyond their borders. Enhanced intelligence sharing, financial controls and screening and preventive measures can be helpful for that goal.

Cooperation is crucial to the exchange of information, as well as the reliability of information and rules of its use. Reaffirmation of the common standards, accountable institutions, respect for fundamental rights is the nucleus of a legitimate international response to violent extremism.

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