Tolerance: a priority for the United Arab Emirates

Tolerance is the hobbyhorse of the United Arab Emirates, to guarantee peace in the countriesof the Gulf.

After the 41st summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on January 5, theUnited Arab Emirates have marked their position in favor of tolerance.

The 41st Gulf Cooperation Council

For this latest edition, Saudi Arabia officially invited the Emir of Qatar after 3 years ofcold between the 2 countries. Doha severed diplomatic relations with Arabia in June 2017Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt. The GCC accused Doha of supportingIslamist movements and to stir up trouble in the region. Kuwait and Oman had served asmediators.

Recall that last year, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, sent his FirstMinister in his stead. His presence this year marks a step forward towards joint action andcooperation between GCC member countries.

The relational crisis between the Gulf countries has played an important role in relations with theUnited States and Israel. A new policy is inscribed in the region with the investiture of the newAmerican president. Putting an end to these discords is the wish of the Emirates and Bahrain.

What is the Gulf Cooperation Council?

The CCG was created on May 25, 1981 under the impetus of Saudi Arabia and the pressure of the United States.United. Its purpose is to ensure economic and political stability in the Gulf region, Iran, Iraqand Syria. It consists of Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Arab EmiratesUnited and Qatar. After the coup attempt in Bahrain, the member countries of the GCC gathered theirarmed forces since 1983. They organize joint maneuvers (Le Bouclier de la Péninsule).After the Kuwait and Muscat summits, the units intervene under a deployment forcespouse whose headquarters under the order of a Saudi general, is in the north ofSaudi Arabia to Hafar Al-Batin.

At that time, the defense ministers reactivated the project of the Organization of IndustriesArabs (OIA), involving Egypt. They build several arms factories (ammunition, weaponslight and light armored) under Brazilian license .

During the « Arab Spring » (2010-2012), the CCG proposed to integrate the kingdoms of Morocco andof Jordan before withdrawing his proposal, but by creating an Arabian Gulf fund for thedevelopment.

Other cooperations

At the end of the Iran-Iraq war (1980-1988), Saddam Hussein creates the Arab Cooperation Council(CCA). It brings together Jordan, Iraq, northern Yemen and Egypt.

On August 10, 1990, the GCC states supported (under a common flag) Kuwait as a result ofits invasion by the Iraqi army. The first « Gulf War » breaks out, pitting Iraq against acoalition of 35 states, led by the United States. It is divided into two phases: the operation »Desert Shield » (August 2, 1990-January 17, 1991) where the troops defend Saudi Arabia, andOperation « Desert Storm » (January 17-February 28, 1991). Coalition forces succeedto repel the Iraqi army and the bombings against Saudi Arabia and Israel.

The second « Gulf War » began in 2003. It opposes a coalition led by the United States.United with the party led by Saddam Hussein. Officially finished 2 months later, it sees the withdrawal of American troops between 2008 and 2011.

• 2003: fall of Saddam Hussein and end of the CCA, Yemen begins negotiations to jointhe Gulf Cooperation Council.
• 2007, the health committee of the CCG intervenes after the progression of avian flu (H5N1 virusHP) in Kuwait.January 1,
• 2008: official opening of the Gulf Common Market (economic union between the sixPersian Gulf monarchies. It aims to open borders to people, capital andgoods on the European model.
• 2009: Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar sign an agreement in Riyadh on the creation of amonetary union. The United Arab Emirates and Oman withdraw following the choice of Riyadh as headquartersof the future Central Bank.
• 2012 Iraqi Defense Minister Saadoun al-Dulaimi declares Iraq (supported by Kuwait)wants to join the CCG.

Fundamentalist groups

During all these years, we have seen the rise of fundamentalism and terrorist groups such as Al-Qaeda, Daesh (EI) or the Muslim Brotherhood. The Middle East has become a powder keg. Wecan see the rise of religious fundamentalism. Some states like Saudi Arabia andQatar are suspected of funding, unlike the United Arab Emirates which advocate tolerance.

• Al-Qaeda: founded in 1987 by Osama bin Laden. Responsible for the attacks of September 11, 2001in the United States, March 11, 2004 in Madrid and July 7, 2005 in London. We find hismain branches in Yemen. The organization is also present in the Arabian Peninsula (Aqpa),in the Maghreb (Aqmi), in Africa (GSIM) and in Syria (Front Al-Nosra) until 2016.
• Islamic State (IS) or Daesh: proclaimed in June 2014. The caliphate of the Islamic State on aterritory stretches from Syria to Iraq.
• The Muslim Brotherhood: created in Egypt in the 1920s by Hassan al-Banna. Organizationfight against British colonization and its Western cultural model by relying onvalues ​​of Islam and Arab culture.

Position of the United Arab Emirates

Since 2017, Qatar has opposed its neighbors following a politico-religious crisis. She sets the stagerelations between Egypt, the « Muslim Brotherhood » and the Gulf countries since the 1950s. Members of the brotherhood fled Egypt to seek refuge in Saudi Arabia and the countries of the Gulf. In the early 1990s, the Muslim Brotherhood became natural allies against therevolutionary Arab movements. They help to increase the pan-Islamic legitimacy of Riyadh.

With the Arab revolutions of 2011, the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamist movements,supported by Qatar and Turkey, tend to create a new political order in the Middle East.In contrast, Saudi Arabia and the Emirates are relying on Egypt to re-establish dialogue.

UAE action

Saudi Arabia and Qatar adhere to the Wahhabi doctrine (return to the practices in force in theMuslim community of the Prophet Muhammad and his first successors or caliphs). At the opposite,the Emirates advocate new institutions (the Council of Muslim Elders and the Forum forpromotion of peace in Muslim societies), nominally independent, led by Eminent personalities of the Sunni world.

The Emirates are the initiators of the Mu’minun bilâ Hudûd (Believers Without Borders) foundation, headquartered in Rabat. Intellectuals from all over the Arab world are participating.

Creation of new ministries

• 2016: Creation of the ministry of happiness. The minister in charge is responsible for plans,programs and policies to achieve a happier society. It is also the year ofcreation of the ministry of tolerance.
• October 2017: Creation of the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence, a few days after the return toland of the first UAE astronaut. Opening of the world’s first university entirelydedicated to artificial intelligence (AI). Visit to Pope Francis to strengthen Islamic dialogue Christian.
• 2019: Creation of the Ministry of Opportunities, assumed by all members of the government.Its mission is to reduce the waiting time in the administrations and to imagine newprojects and systems for the future. Exhibition « Highway Gallery 2.0 » along the highway connecting Dubai to Abu Dhabi. This event allowed to see the spirit of openness of the Louvre museumfrom Abu Dhabi through 10 3D works. We could discover a statue from the 10th / 11th centuryrepresenting not Buddha but Guanyin, deity of compassion. The reproduction of a4000-year-old statuette of the Princess of Bactria, a 17th century Hindu manuscript ora work by Van Gogh dated 1888 called « The dance hall in Arles » lined the edge of Highway.
• In the space of 3 years, the country has been able to highlight its modernity and its open-mindedness, while developing tolerance.

Visit of the Pope in February 2019

Pope Francis visited the Emirates in February 2017. He celebrated an open-air mass there.in front of nearly 150,000 people including 4,000 Muslims.

The United Arab Emirates has a population of more than 85% expatriates. We count 65% from Asian countries, Africans and Europeans.

This mass showed the liberalism of the country. The free practice of religion (non-Muslim) is thereauthorized and accepted Government and people respect differences while advocating formutual understanding. Buddhists, Christians and Hindus can come together to pray and meditate.

The UAE’s controversial relations

Despite an image of openness to Europe and France, the Emirates maintain relationswith Salafist militias in Libya and Yemen and Chechnya. The Emirates have invested a lotin the country which fights against « the Moslem Brotherhood ».

Conversely, they were very present alongside the Hexagon in the crisis of caricatures (assassinationSamuel Paty), especially against Turkey.

The model of tolerance shown by the Emirates is a bulwark against radical Islamism but does notapplies to the country it self. No party or elections are tolerated. In addition, 10% of the inhabitantsare UAE citizens.

The last chords

2020: Historic agreements between Israel, the Emirates and Bahrain, signed on September 15 at the Maison White. The normalization of relations between the 3 countries heralds a new era despite the protests from the Palestinian Authority, which feels betrayed. Israel’s only concession is abandonment any further annexation in the West Bank.

The « Abraham Accords » are an economic issue in this Gulf region. November 26, the first commercial flight between Israel and the Emirates was a milestone.

After Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994, the United Arab Emirates is the third Arab country to officially recognize Israel. She also hopes for a rapprochement with Saudi Arabia and other countries in the region.

The first Israeli embassy will soon be opened in Abu-Dhabi. Its first representative will be a diplomat who officiated in Ankara, Eithan Naeh. Regarding the Emirates, the embassy should sit in Tel Aviv. There is also visa exemption in both countries.

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