The Geopolitical Position of the UAE in the Middle East

In times of political tensions in the Middle East, it is particularly important to consider the geopolitical position and foreign policy orientation of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Political instability generally has a negative impact on real estate investments, especially in countries that are heavily dependent on international trade and foreign investments.

The UAE’s foreign policy is considered largely neutral. This became particularly evident after the early withdrawal from Yemen in 2016. The only significant tension remains with neighboring Iran, although relations have notably eased in recent years. The second major geopolitical tension in the region – with Israel – was completely resolved through the normalization of relations under the Abraham Accords.

The UAE does not belong to any specific political bloc and has not joined the sanctions against Russia. However, they are both economically and geopolitically closely linked with the West. The USA, the United Kingdom, and France maintain military bases in the country.

Self-Sufficiency

The UAE’s economy is highly self-sufficient in terms of energy supply as well as the import of building materials and certain metals such as aluminum. Moreover, the country maintains unrestricted trade relationships with both East and West. This diversification has ensured that the UAE has never experienced an energy, resource, or inflation crisis.

Defense

The UAE Armed Forces consist of approximately 65,000 active soldiers and around 130,000 reservists. The military is heavily influenced by the USA and the UK, which provide the majority of military advisors and trainers. The UAE’s high level of military training stems, among other factors, from their participation in foreign missions against ISIS, the establishment of a no-fly zone in Libya, and their operations in Yemen.

The UAE’s defense budget is about one-third of Germany’s, yet the country possesses modern and well-equipped military systems. The Air Force operates around 160 modern Western interceptor and multirole fighter jets, while the Army has a comparable number of modern battle tanks to that of Germany.

The overall security alignment towards NATO is underscored by the presence of military bases from the USA, the UK, and France. No other countries maintain military bases in the UAE.

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