In this episode, we unpack the question: What does the UAE want?

From Yemen and Sudan to the Horn of Africa, ports, and security alliances, we examine how a small nation is attempting to build broad influence that extends beyond its borders, and how this has impacted its relationship with Saudi Arabia and Israel, as well as the balance of power in the region.

Timeline:

00:00 Introduction — What does the UAE want?

01:23 The Big Picture — From Sudan to the International Court of Justice

01:59 Geographic Fear — Why does the UAE feel exposed? 03:32 Bin Zayed's Strategy — Preemption and Building Influence
04:12 Dubai and Economic Influence — Monopolizing the Nexus
05:15 The Port Chain — Controlling the Waterways
08:05 The Abraham Accords — Security and Technology
11:11 Saudi Arabia and the UAE — The Competition of Two Models
13:11 Artificial Intelligence — The Data Empire
14:12 OPEC+ — Oil Independence
15:22 Yemen — The Moment of Confrontation
18:51 Hidden Influence — Raven and Cyber ​​Armies
22:57 The Bottom Line — What Does the UAE Want?
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◉ Sources

Research Centers:
Carnegie Endowment (2023) — Seas, Checks, and Guns: Emirati and Saudi Maritime Interests in Yemen
Carnegie Endowment (2024) — Flexible Outposts: The Emirati Approach to Military Bases Abroad
Chatham House (2023) — The Abraham Accords and Israel–UAE Normalization
ECFR (2023) — Trading Bases: The Red Sea Tinderbox
ECFR (2026) — From Partners to Rivals: The Saudi-UAE Rupture
Soufan Center (2026) — Saudi-UAE Strategic Friction and Regional Fragmentation
Belfer Center, Harvard (2026) — The UAE Transforming into a Middle Power
Arab Center DC — Reflections on MBZ's Preferences Regarding UAE Foreign Policy
INSS (2026) — From Quiet Competition to Open Rivalry: Saudi–UAE Relations
Stanford Internet Observatory (2020) — Analysis of April 2020 Twitter Takedowns
Citizen Lab — Hide and Seek: Tracking NSO Pegasus Spyware, 45 Countries

International press:
Foreign Policy (Jan 2026) — Saudi Arabia and the UAE Have Divergent Strategies
Foreign Policy (Jan 2026) — Red Sea Rivalries Risk Unraveling the Horn of Africa
Foreign Policy (May 2026) — How the Abraham Accords Fueled a New Era of Conflict
Israel Hayom (Feb 2026) — Abraham Accords Near Collapse as UAE Loses Faith in Israel
The Arab Weekly (2026) — Sisi visits Abu Dhabi, inspects Egyptian fighter jet unit
Reuters (Jan 2019) — Inside the UAE Secret Hacking Team of American Mercenaries
BBC (Oct (2025) — Fake Social Media Accounts Pushing Pro-UAE Propaganda Across Africa
Associated Press — Al-Mukalla Strike, December 30, 2025
The Guardian — Leaked UN Report, April 14, 2025
Reuters — UAE Exit from OPEC+, May 2026
Rest of World (2025) — Trump's Middle East Trip: $2.2T in Tech and Chip Deals
Middle East Eye (Jan 2026) — Gulf Tensions: Heated Online Feud Erupts Between Pro-Saudi and Pro-UAE Accounts

Official and Legal Documents:
Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre UAE — Statistics 2024
OPEC Annual Statistical Bulletin 2025
ICJ Case 197 — Sudan v. UAE, May 2025
UN Security Council S/2025/239
US Department of Justice — Deferred Prosecution Agreement, Project Raven, 2021
DP World Berbera — Official Website
Saudi Press Agency (SPA) — Crown Prince's Call to Mohammed bin Zayed, May 4, 2026
Emirates News Agency (WAM) — Sisi's Visit and Inspection of Rafale Fighter Jets, May 7, 2026

Leaks:
WikiLeaks cable 09ABUDHABI193
Al Jazeera — Analysis of UAE WikiLeaks Cables, 2018

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