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Title: Rivalry and Rifts in the Arab Gulf: The Complex Dynamics of Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar
Description: Explore the intricate geopolitical landscape of the Arab Gulf involving Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar. Unravel the deep-seated rivalries and ideological clashes that have shaped the power dynamics in the region, from economic competitiveness to the role of political Islam. Delve into the historical relationships, conflicting foreign policies, and the enduring impact of events like the Qatar blockade and the normalization of ties between UAE and Israel.
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Electronic Journal of Social and Strategic Studies Volume 5 Issue 1
Date of publication: 31 May 2024 Apr-May 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.47362/EJSSS.2024.5101
Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar’s Quest...
' Afifa Iqbal has a Master’s in International Relations from Amity Institute of International Studies (AIIS), Amity
University, NOIDA Electronic Journal of Social and Strategic Studies Volume 5 Issue ...
At this juncture, the Gulf’s
threat perception of Iran evidently triumphed over the concerns of a potential hegemony of
Saudi Arabia within the organization (Buzan, 2019; Ehteshami, 2011). However, in...
However, these embraces fail to overshadow the
changing realities driven by the competing foreign policy priorities of the Gulf countries
(Jacobs, 2023). The failure to bridge the persistent gaps is e...
Appearing as a threat to Saudi Arabia’s ambitions and
dominance in the region, the competition over potential leadership status has been the key
driver of the UAE’s assertive and independent foreign ...
For instance, in Yemen, this partnership dramatically transformed into a
competitive quest for influence as the UAE attacked Yemeni governmental forces to back its
southern separatist allies. Starting...
Apparently, the UAE’s strategic ambitions in Yemen were not the
restoration of the Hadi government but to have control over Yemen’s vital strategic maritime
locations, such as the building of a milita...
However, forging strong economic ties with the US and being a major
importer of US weaponry, US-UAE ties remain on a strong footing (Dunne, 2023). Moreover,
Saudi Arabia’s reluctance to renounce its d...
In 2009, the UAE
registered its objections to the proposition of locating the GCC central bank headquarters in
Riyadh. In 2021, the UAE energy ministry deemed the Saudi-led plan within OPEC + to exten...
UAE rebuffs plan by OPEC, Saudi Arabia to extend production pact (2021). Al Jazeera,
https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2021/7/4/uae-rebuffs-plan-by-opec-allies-to-extend-production-
pact Electronic Jo...
These factors could range from political leadership to the forging of alliances or reliance
on other states for aid to enhance their own relative power capabilities. Aiming to maximize
its influence a...
Before Sheikh Hamad took the reins of power in Qatar, a few
incidents shaped his outlook against Saudi domination. The 1992 Saudi-Qatar border clash
culminated in the deaths of two Qatari soldiers (F...
date back to 1992,
which further led to the formalization and expansion of Washington’s military presence in the
region, such as in the Sayliyah logistical depot or the Al Ubeid air base, which remain...
Electronic Journal of Social and Strategic Studies Volume 5 Issue 1
Date of publication: 31 May 2024 Apr-May 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.47362/EJSSS.2024.5101
2011 onwards to working along with its ...
In 2014, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain withdrew their ambassadors in protest at new
Qatari emir Tamim bin Hamad AI Thani’s status -quo challenging foreign policy approach. In
response to this, Qa...
The diplomatic suspension of ties was followed by the
imposition of land and maritime trade sanctions on Qatar. Not all the GCC states backed the
blockade. Oman allowed Qatar to use its ports, and Kuw...
Tillerson’s efforts pressured Mohammed bin
Salman to back down, as this invasion could potentially harm the long-term Saudi-U'S. relationship. However, the turn of events ultimately enraged the UAE cr...
The four main Arab states of ‘the quartet’ reconciled their ties with Doha to different
degrees throughout the post al Ula summit, with Saudi Arabia and Egypt spearheading the
reconciliation process (...
The
regional order in the Gulf is part of a broader regional system of the Middle East, consisting of
a number of cluster factors such as power dynamics, ideational factors, and domestic aspects. In t...
These four camps include the conservative-moderates
(the Anti-Muslim Brotherhood; the KSA and the UAE), the conservative-resistance (case-
dependent; Iran-led), the moderate-resistance (pro-Muslim Bro...
Abu Dhabi’s adherence to an
authoritarian ruling model and its staunch opposition to the Muslim Brotherhood have been the
key motivators of its threat perception towards Qatari foreign policy. The ali...
In this context, Qatar
backed the revolutionary uprisings in the hope that MB would assume governmental positions,
3 Read... Telci, i.N., & Oztiirk Horoz, T. (2021). Competing Policies towards the M...
Here, Mohammed bin Zayed’s vision of secular and centralized states being at
odds with Qatar’s support for the Islamists thus became the core of the Gulf rift (Davidson,
2019). In 2013, Abu Dhabi stro...
Hence, Riyadh
was the main agent of the al-Ula summit that culminated in lifting up the Qatari blockade
(Cafiero, 2022). 6. Impact of External Forces in the Gulf Region
The Red Sea, Arabian Peninsul...
This external military presence in the Gulf is intricately linked to the sale of military
equipment in the region, particularly by the United States, the United Kingdom, and France. Reportedly, betwee...
Since the 2017—
2021 blockade, Qatar has extensively engaged in diplomatic maneuvers to safeguard its
interests in a neighborhood wallowed in a combative power rivalry. This includes moderating
high-l...
Electronic Journal of Social and Strategic Studies Volume 5 Issue 1
Date of publication: 31 May 2024 Apr-May 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.47362/EJSSS.2024.5101
came to help alleviate Qatar’s physical...
In an effort to dial down rising tensions amid regional adversaries, the
Gulf Cooperation Council’s historic al-Ula Summit held in 2021 marked a remarkable shift
towards greater pragmatism in the UAE...
Qatar’s engagement with a bunch of
international actors is aimed at creating its image as an independent actor. This aids in forging
Doha’s reputation as an innovative and engaging international Gulf ...
There is no denying the fact that the GCC is facing a
complex set of internal obstacles, namely that the two Gulf heavyweights are at odds with each
other on various issues. This geostrategic rivalry ...
(2015). Arap Bahar Sonrasi Katar Dis Politikasi ve K6rfez
Siyaseti. SETA Analysis, No.138. Al-Ebraheem, H. A. (2016). Kuwait: A small state model. Kuwait and the Gulf, 88—100. doi:10.4324/978 13 15629...
Ideational factors in Turkey’s alignment with Qatar and their
impact on regional security. The International Spectator, 56(4), 101-118. doi:10.1080/03932729.2021.1994181
Bianco, C. (2020). The GCC mo...
Huge role of the Tiny Kingdom of Qatar in
Libya draws concern - WSJ. Retrieved from
https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB 1000 1424052970204002304576627000922764650
Davidson, C.M. (2019). The UAE, Qatar, a...
Retrieved from
https://foreignpolicy.com/2014/09/30/the-case-against-qatar/
Dunne, C. W. (2023). The UAE-Saudi Arabia rivalry becomes a rift. Retrieved from
https://arabcenterdc .org/resource/the-uae...
External behavior of Small States in light of theories of international
relations. Retrieved from
https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/REPS-11-2018-
0028/full/html
Hanieh, A. (2017). T...
Electronic Journal of Social and Strategic Studies Volume 5 Issue 1
Date of publication: 31 May 2024 Apr-May 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.47362/EJSSS.2024.5101
Rex Tillerson stopped Saudi and UAE fro...
B. (2017). Qatar: Securing the global ambitions of a city-state. London: Hurst &
Company. Roberts, D. B. (2019). Reflecting on Qatar’s “islamist” soft power. Retrieved from
https://kclpure.kcl.ac .uk/...
The Muslim Brotherhood Evolution of an Islamist Movement. Princeton: Princeton University Press. Warren, D. H. (2014). The ‘ulama’ and the Arab Uprisings 2011-13: Considering Yusuf al-
Qaradawi, the ‘...
The ‘ulama’ and the Arab Uprisings 2011-13: Considering Yusuf al-
Qaradawi, the ‘Global Mufti,’ between the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamic legal
tradition, and Qatari foreign policy. New Middle Easte...