Last week saw significant moves by the UAE and Saudi diplomats. The moves came as a surprise to hostile regional countries and terrorist organizations. Hours after HH Sh. Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, came from visits to Jordan and France, he received Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. MBS will also visit Bahrain, Egypt and Tunisia and will participate in the G20 summit in Argentina late November.
The visit of the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi to France has created new foundations for the UAE-French relations. For decades, relations between any Gulf country and European partners were confined to the economy, military cooperation and oil exports. The UAE is seeking to strengthen ties with the Europeans. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said that the UAE and France partner not only in the fight against terrorism, but also in tolerance, promoting dialogue and cultural coexistence, and stability and development in the Middle East and the world.
The partnership between the two countries has cultural aspects, including bilateral cooperation for the protection of cultural heritage in conflict areas, an often-forgotten concern in modern international politics.
The UAE and France have succeeded in finding new common ground that will strengthen the existing strategic relations. The two countries stand for a set of values such as the world need to spread security, stability, coexistence and settle conflicts and crises.
The Louvre in Abu Dhabi is a fruit of this partnership. Also, France named the Imperial Theater in Fontaineau, Paris, after UAE President HH Sh. Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, as the French leadership is convinced of the growing cross-cultural role of the UAE in Europe and around the globe.
By the same token, Saudi Arabia has become stronger on the world stage, under an ambitious Saudi leadership. The upcoming tour of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman took adversaries by surprise. With the support of the Saudi people, the young leadership can counteract plots to dwindle the Kingdom’s leading role of the Arab and Islamic nation.
HH Sh. Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, expressed the strong relations and fraternal ties that bring the UAE and Saudi leaders together in a wonderful poem. “In the hospitality of Abu Khalid, he’s your right hand and his, same are your concerns.” The wonderful poem ends with “We are with you, we are one side, your closest brothers who always support you.”
The visits of HH Sh. Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and HRH Emir Mohammed bin Salman confirm the idea of the UAE-Saudi alliance. The two countries have become the Middle East stability and security axis.
