United Arab Emirates
The month of February witnessed important security events in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), including the killing of four Emirati soldiers in Somalia and restrictions on the use of military bases in the UAE by the United States. On the economic front, there is notable news of an agreement between Cairo and Abu Dhabi for the development of Ras el-Hekma.
On Sunday, February 11, four Emirati and one Bahraini military personnel in Somalia were killed in an attack claimed by the terrorist organization al-Shabaab. The terrorists targeted the General Gordon military base in Mogadishu, describing the UAE as an "enemy of Islam and Sharia" due to its support for the Somali government in the fight against al-Shabaab. In addition to their support to Mogadishu against terrorist activities, The UAE see Somalia as a significant destination for investments, particularly focusing on ports in the Red Sea area and in East Africa in recent years.
In the military sector, the UAE and Saudi Arabia are restricting the use of their air bases by the U.S. Air Force for attacks against pro-Iranian militias in the region. These restrictions come amid the tricky context of the Gaza conflict, Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, and actions by Iranian proxies in Syria and Iraq. In this situation, Sunni monarchies attempt to balance the need to contain militias close to Tehran and, on the other hand, not appear too closely aligned with Washington and Tel Aviv. Additionally, the Arab countries have been engaged in a years-long attempt at détente with the Islamic Republic, partly motivating this decision. The news holds particular significance for the United States, facing repeated attacks by Iranian proxies in the region, escalating since October 7. Some weeks after the Hamas attack, the Iraqi militia Kataib Hezbollah had threatened to strike Emirati and Kuwaiti bases hosting American military personnel in retaliation for Washington's support of Israel.
Economically, there is strengthened Emirati support for Egypt, grappling with a profound economic and financial crisis exacerbated by conflicts in Sudan and Gaza. A bilateral agreement worth $35 billion has been reached for the development of the Ras el-Hekma area in the northeast of Egypt. Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly announced that Cairo would receive $15 billion in the coming weeks and the remaining $20 billion within two months. The partnership between the Egyptian government and the Emirati sovereign wealth fund ADQ includes a 35% share of profits allocated to Cairo, serving the crucial role of reassuring markets and investors about the financial stability of the North African country. According to several Egyptian economists, this agreement strengthens the country's position in negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a new $10 billion loan. The Gulf countries, particularly the UAE, are aware of the importance of restoring Cairo to a path of economic stability, especially given the regional crisis context.
Download the February 2024 report
Med-Or Foundation signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy of the United Arab Emirates (AGDA) to promote collaboration in the fields of higher education and research.
Med-Or Foundation attended the tenth edition of the Abu Dhabi Strategic Debate (ADSD) from November 13-14, 2023, in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani's recent visit to the UAE confirms how the Rome-Abu Dhabi dialogue is strategic on several key issues for Italy's economic, foreign, and security policy
| Head of state | Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan |
| Head of Government | Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum |
| Institutional Form | Federal Islamic parliamentary elective semi-constitutional monarchy |
| Capital | Abu Dhabi |
| Legislative Power | Federal National Council (40 members); Federal Supreme Council (7, one for each emirate) |
| Judicial Power | Federal Supreme Court (one Chief Justice and 4 judges; jurisdiction limited to federal cases) |
| Ambassador to Italy | Abdulla Ali Ateeq Obaid Alsubousi |
| Total Area kmq | 83.600 km2 |
| Land | 83.600 km2 |
| Weather | Desert; cooler towards the eastern mountains |
| Natural resources | Oil and natural gas, marine resources |
| Economic summary | An open economy with a high GDP per capita income and a substantial annual trade surplus; a strong dependence on oil is a significant and long-term challenge for the country. |
| GDP | $359 billion (Dec. 2021) |
| Pro-capite GDP (Purchasing power parity) | $37498 (Dec. 2021) |
| Exports | $216 billion (2020) |
| Export partner | India 10.2%, China 8.91%, Saudi Arabia 8.36%, Japan 7.07%, Iraq 6.08%, Switzerland 4.7%, Oman 4.49% (2020) |
| Imports | $214 billion (2020) |
| Import partner | China 19.1%, India 8.43%, United States 6.52%, Saudi Arabia 4.3%, Germany 3.65%, Italy 2.09% (2020) |
| Trade With Italy | $7,98 billion (2021) |
| Population | 9.915.803 (2022) |
| Population Growth | +0,58% (2022) |
| Ethnicities | Emiratins 11.48%, Indians 27.49%, Pakistani 12.69%, Filipinos 5.56%, Egyptians 4.23%, others 38.55% |
| Languages | Arabic (official), English, Hindi, Malay, Urdu, Pashtu, Tagalog, Farsi |
| Religions | Islam 76%, Christians 9%, others (mainly Hindus and Buddhists) 15% |
| Urbanization | 87% |
| Literacy | 97,6% |
Independent since 1971, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a federation of six emirates. The UAE borders with Saudi Arabia to the west and south, with Oman to the east and with the Persian Gulf to the west. The population is about 10 million, mostly consisting of migrant workers and their families. The official language is Arabic.
After its independence, the country witnessed rapid economic growth, thanks to its oil and gas reserves. This, along with the bolstering of diplomatic relations with both Western and Asian countries, has allowed the Emirates to acquire great political importance on the international stage. In recent times, the UAE has begun to strengthen its defence and security system, and today the country boasts one of the most technologically advanced armies in the region. On 15 September 2020, with the ratification of the Abraham Accords, the UAE, together with Bahrain, became the third Arab country to recognize the State of Israel, after Egypt and Jordan. The country is also actively engaged in promoting intercultural and interreligious dialogue across the region.
Over the years, commercial relations between the UAE and Italy have progressively grown. Italy is one of the main suppliers of the UAE and, concurrently, an important market for Emirati investments.
Italian-Emirati collaboration spans a variety of sectors, from security to science and culture. One example of this is the recent opening of the Italian Cultural Institute in Abu Dhabi, the first of its kind in Gulf countries.
