Qatar and UAE Building Closer Ties in a Shifting Political Landscape

Qatar and UAE’s Surprising Alignment: Assessing their Evolving Relationship in Land of GCC

West Asia has been the powerhouse of world leaders, like the UK and, the USA for decades and big players always try to control it. These moves make this region very volatile. Post-COVID-19, West Asia is undergoing significant changes in terms of global relations and diplomatic relations within the GCC countries.

What happens when unexpected alliances emerge that transcend historical tensions? I would like to highlight a remarkable development that should see a gradual warming of relations between Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), this shift marks a turning point in the political landscape of the Gulf. This region has long been complicated by historical disputes.

Join me to explore new emerging partners: UAE and Qatar

The Relationship’s Complex History

Before jumping into the current scenario of Qatar’s developing relations with the UAE, it would be great if I trace the roots of the complex relationship between Qatar and the UAE. So, this is not a new relationship, it can be traced back to the early 19th century when both states were part of the same tribal confederacy. However, throughout the years, their paths diverged as the region witnessed rapid changes in political, economic, and social aspects and mostly in their ideologies!

One of the major points of contention between the two countries was Qatar’s strong ties with the Muslim Brotherhood and its supportive stance during the Arab Spring uprisings in 2011. This stance caused uneasiness among several Gulf countries, including the UAE, leading to a diplomatic rift.

The UAE has taken a more assertive approach to regional politics with its involvement in conflicts such as Libya, Yemen, and Syria. On the other hand, Qatar has pursued a more independent foreign policy by maintaining diplomatic relations with countries such as Iran, which are viewed as rivals by many GCC member states.

‘Men are Mortal, Nations are Immortal’: The Gulf Crisis Was Not the End!

Although the world has always heard the saying that Qatar is the country that is in the GCC but not with the GCC, mainly due to its political ideology and IR-related controversies in the Gulf crisis, the scenario is completely different after it ends with a Peace Treaty.

Qatar started working to share good relations with neighbors since 2021, The UAE came forward to help Qatar because the UAE always wants peace and development of the GCC and wants to spread brotherhood with the world. UAE is the voice of peace. Is the world ready to accept change? Or I say the world will see positive changes in the GCC with the emerging new relations between Qatar and UAE?

After a year of big changes, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have started to rebuild their diplomatic ties. This marks the start of a new era in the way they interact with each other in the region. A diplomatic rift that had been going on for three and a half years was finally closed in 2021. Now is the time for both countries to strengthen their ties, take advantage of the things they have in common, and work together to solve problems in the region and around the world. As Qatar and the UAE move forward, their relationship is changing. This could lead to more stability in the region, better economic growth, and better cooperation on the world stage.

A New Chapter of Cooperation : UAE & Qatar

UAE warmly welcomed Qatar. Both countries have indicated their commitment to rebuilding diplomatic relations and promoting cooperation in various fields including trade, security, peace in the region, and culture.

The UAE and Qatar reopened their embassies in Abu Dhabi and Doha on June 19, 2023. This strengthened the ties between the two countries. 

Reopening the embassies is a big step towards getting things back to normal between the UAE and Qatar. It also helps the GCC get past its recent disagreements.

When embassies reopen, it’s good for the Gulf region. It shows that the GCC countries want to work out their differences and reach their common goals. The AlUla Declaration was made at the end of the Gulf Cooperation Council summit in AlUla, Saudi Arabia, on January 5, 2021. It put an end to the Qatar dispute and asked the GCC to work together and be one. In the declaration, unity, and cooperation were emphasized. It called for diplomatic relations to be restored, borders and airspace to be opened back up between Qatar and the other GCC countries, and economic and media blockades against Qatar to end. It also called for a joint security committee to fight terrorism and make it easier for people to work together on things like culture, economic growth, and security.

As of June 2023, the Embassies of the United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi and Qatar in Doha are Both Back Open.

This was a break from the harsh spark of 6 years. It’s a big step towards better relations between the UAE and Qatar that the embassies are now open again. This is also good news for the GCC, which has been working to heal the rifts that have been affecting the area for the past few years.

The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that the embassy’s reopening “embodies the will of the leaderships of the two countries and in the consolidation of the joint Arab action to achieve the aspirations of the two brotherly people.”

In a statement, the Qatari Foreign Ministry said that the embassy’s reopening “reflects the commitment of the two countries to strengthen their bilateral relations.”

It’s good news for the Gulf region that the embassies are now open again. This shows that the GCC countries want to put aside their differences and work together to reach their goals. UAE played a vital role in it.

This has opened many avenues for deepening the relations between the two countries. It also stressed the importance of working together and staying united. It also suggested forming a joint security committee to deal with terrorism concerns. It also stressed the importance of working together more closely in areas such as culture, economic development, and security.

• Economic Ties:

Both Qatar and the UAE have a lot of natural resources and strong economies. When they work together again, it could lead to better trade, which would make the region’s economy even more stable. In areas like infrastructure, finance, and energy, both countries have said they want to work together more.

According to data from the World Bank, in 2020 alone, total exports from Qatar to the UAE amounted to approximately $2 billion while imports from the UAE to Qatar reached around $1 billion. The number is constantly growing for 2021.

https://wits.worldbank.org/CountryProfile/en/Country/QAT/Year/2021/TradeFlow/EXPIMP/Partner/by-country#

• Security for the Region:

The Gulf has always been a hot spot for the world, the region faces various security challenges. The biggest challenge is the highly challenging ideology of the Gulf countries if cooperation between Qatar and UAE can help ensure the security and stability of the region. Both nations have already demonstrated their willingness to cooperate on security and counter-terrorism efforts.

On the Israel-Hamas war, Qatar seems to be on the same platform as the GCC countries and the UAE, they want peace and an end to the war.  The world has noted Qatar’s presence in the ASEAN-GCC meeting, Cairo Peace Summit and the support they have shown with the GCC, while there are many derogatory stories in the world on their ideology.

• Cultural Exchange:

Sharing their rich traditions and histories can lead to a better understanding between their peoples. This may involve collaborations in the arts, education, and heritage preservation. Cultural exchange can be a way to enhance relations between two nations. On the joint statement of ASEAN-GCC, Qatar welcomes hosting the International Horticulture Expo 2023.

• Regional Diplomacy:

West Asia is a very volatile region due to the needs of world politics and trade, the instability of the region always requires strong dialogue or mediation of disputes in the Middle East, so strong ties between nations would be beneficial for stability. Qatar and UAE cooperation can contribute to peace and stability. The geographical location is good for trade and investment opportunities for both of the nations.

From the platform of the ASEAN-GCC Summit 2023, Qatar showed a strong attitude to promoting relations by investing in projects and deepening ties with GCC countries.

Challenges Ahead

Although in recent times, Qatar-UAE relations have been promising, the road ahead is full of challenges. The two countries will have to overcome their differences and find common ground on various regional issues, including their respective stances on Iran and political Islam.

It would be noteworthy that as UAE wants to enhance relations for peace, Qatar should play wisely and take advantage of this opportunity to grow with the leader of GCC-UAE. This will be beneficial for both sectors.

The evolving dynamics between these key players are worth watching as they navigate a shifting political landscape in the Middle East. With the game being played by smaller states surrounded by more powerful neighbors like Saudi Arabia and Iran, and bigger eagles from different parts of the world, they will need each other’s support amid regional challenges and development.

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