Taimoor
Elite Member
Its cringeworthy when you hear these UAE lot with their over bloated egos label themselves as "sparta of the ME", considering only few decades ago, they were fishermen taking dip in Arabian sea in search of pearls.
Abu Dhabi is ‘Israel’s Trojan horse’.
- Thread starter _Arabia_
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It is clear that they (US/Israel) have indeed made a promise to the UAE concerning Saudi Arabia. Absolutely. 100%. This isn't just a strange conspiracy theory; rather, it's a conclusion that can be logically inferred from their actions in the Middle East.
Just look at their plans and visions for the Middle East as a whole, what they did to Iraq, Syria, Libya, Lebanon, Yemen etc.
What if Saudi Arabia is next after Iran after all?
Just look at their plans and visions for the Middle East as a whole, what they did to Iraq, Syria, Libya, Lebanon, Yemen etc.
What if Saudi Arabia is next after Iran after all?
Samurai
Registered Member
Yes anything can happen, but these crazy Afghan Taliban will still kiss Indian feet and ask for more $$$, and even if Dajjal appears before them and ask them who is your biggest enemy, the Taliban and Afghans will answer Pakistan.
r3alist
Elite Member
If this is indeed the case, as it appears to be, it would likely benefit KSA. Why? Because Israel is currently more unpopular than at any point in recent years across much of the region. Even Arab and Muslim-majority states that have signed the Ibrahim (AS) Accords have faced challenges justifying those decisions to their populations and often lack strong popular backing on the issue.
If UAE actions are perceived as aligning with the broader Zionist goal of regional fragmentation, it should become easier to mobilize opposition. Otherwise, the situation could simply be viewed as another internal power struggle among regional governments.
A part of me is also of the belief that this might be more about the fact that KSA is taking more and more of the economic pie away from the UAE than anything else. Abu Dhabi has a hard time coming to terms with this fact and the reality that KSA is no longer the insular version that we were after 1979 until the late reign of King Abdullah.
All it takes is to look at the economic numbers and indicators.
A small example of this reality:
Moody’s President and CEO Rob Fauber:The company has decided to open a regional headquarters in the capital Riyadh. This step reflects Moody’s confidence in the strong economic momentum of the Kingdom, and reaffirms its commitment to supporting local and international investors in seizing opportunities through its expertise and vision.
Moody’s establishes regional HQ in Saudi Arabia, deepening its Middle East footprint
RIYADH: Global risk assessment firm Moody’s Corp. announced on Feb. 18 the establishment of a new regional headquarters in Riyadh, aiming to deepen the company’s presence in Saudi Arabia. According to a press release, the company said that the move underscores its commitment to supporting the...www.arabnews.com
"In October 2025, then-Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih announced that the Vision 2030 target of 500 by the end of the decade had already been exceeded, with 675 regional headquarters already set up in Riyadh under the scheme."
Obviously this could be perceived (especially if it continues as everything points to) as an existential threat to UAE long-term.
Now that geopolitics is being used going back to a financial equilibrium could put Saudi into trouble
K2RULEZ
Elite Member
Read this.
YONI BEN MENACHEM
Against the backdrop of Iran’s gradual weakening, a new Sunni coalition is beginning to take form in the Middle East. At its center stands Turkey, seeking regional leadership and signaling a reassessment of the nuclear option.
(Feb. 21, 2026 / Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs)
Senior officials in Jerusalem are expressing deep concern over Turkey’s growing regional and international standing, bolstered by the backing of U.S. President Donald Trump, and Ankara’s apparent ambition to position itself as a nuclear-capable regional...
r3alist
Elite Member
Well if Saudi becomes a target then the UAE becomes top dog.
_Arabia_
SpeedLimited
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Explain.
KSA's current economy is 2 times the size of the UAE (have in mind that KSA was undergoing a self-sabotage for almost 40 years while UAE could develop in peace without any competition - only in the last 5-6 years has this really changed) and is growing at a faster rate when it comes to the non-oil sector.
The non-oil sector in particular is growing very rapidly as well as the industrial output in all industrial sectors - among the highest in the world in fact.
Then you have the mineral and natural wealth.
Then you have KSA's enormous potential for alternative energy (solar, wind, nuclear, hydrogen)
World’s ‘largest’ green hydrogen plant construction reaches 80% completion
World's 'largest' green hydrogen plant construction reaches 80% completion
NEOM Green Hydrogen Project in Saudi Arabia has reached an 80% construction completion across all sites, as per Air Products.
www.offshore-energy.biz
Makkah and Madinah (Hajj and Umrah) and a booming tourism sector that already contributes around 5% of the GDP. Unlikely to slow down any time soon.
Then you have the human capital and a native population almost 30-35 times larger. A population that could easily grow by naturalizing the millions of Arab and non-Arab residents (something that I am personally in favor of on an annual basis for people who deserve it and can contribute to the country).
Another little comparison:
PIF assets rise to $1.15T
02/01/2026 Argaam
Logo of Public Investment Fund (PIF)
The Public Investment Fund (PIF) ranked fifth among the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds (SWFs), after its net assets amounted to $1.15 trillion, recent data from the SWF Institute showed.
PIF's assets rose by $226 billion from $925 billion by the end of December 2024.
PIF assets rise to $1.15T
The Public Investment Fund (PIF) ranked fifth among the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds (SWFs), after its net assets amounted to $1.15 trillion
www.argaam.com
In other words, within a span of merely 12 months, the PIF alone had a growth almost as big as half of the total UAE GDP.
Any way I am not going to deny, never had and never will, that UAE (in particular under the late Zayed - a great and respected Arab leader) grew from a collection of sleepy coastal trade towns and small emirates focused on trade, pearls etc. tucked into the southeastern corner of Eastern Arabia and turned the UAE into a pioneer on many fronts. For instance they were one of the first nations in the world to create their own sovereign wealth fund (2 trillion USD), they managed to rebrand their country and turn it into a major tourism, banking and aviation center of the world. They have done very well in terms of infrastructure as well for instance Abu Dhabi (which I ironically much prefer as a city compared to Dubai) is very well developed. Better than Riyadh in my view or Jeddah (even though we are catching up). So there is that.
However you can only do so much if you have a native population of around 1.5 million people.
_Arabia_
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- #39
I am not sure if you have read our discussion, don't blame you if you have not, as it is rather long, but I believe that it is a combination of the UAE (Abu Dhabi and more precisely MBZ and his local partners) willingly taking up the role as the regional Zionist trojan horse in hope of getting something in return, and the economic reality and rivalry.
KSA next as in UAE, Zionists or the US targeting KSA? Well, nothing can be firmly excluded. We know for a fact, this is official Israeli policy since at least 1982, that Israel pursues and wants the fragmentation and division of the Arab world as well as regional countries, Turkiye included or any actor that could potentially pose a threat to them.
However there is also this theory that goes against all of this and which can basically be summarized to transnational capital deciding the outcomes and they have supposedly decided that war and eternal conflict is not the solution but rather a new peaceful and stable multipolar world. Israel will apparently be vassalised into the GCC and Iran will be vassalised into China.
I still struggle to undertand how you envision a 1.3 million big country to become the regional top dog? How would that exactly emerge? You would need a total redrawing of the borders. Just in the GCC alone you would need to divide KSA into several entities. UAE on its own is already the second most powerful GCC country.
r3alist
Elite Member
Explain.
KSA's current economy is 2 times the size of the UAE (have in mind that KSA was undergoing a self-sabotage for almost 40 years while UAE could develop in peace without any competition - only in the last 5-6 years has this really changed) and is growing at a faster rate when it comes to the non-oil sector.
View attachment 180224
The non-oil sector in particular is growing very rapidly as well as the industrial output in all industrial sectors - among the highest in the world in fact.
Then you have the mineral and natural wealth.
View attachment 180222
Then you have KSA's enormous potential for alternative energy (solar, wind, nuclear, hydrogen)
World’s ‘largest’ green hydrogen plant construction reaches 80% completion
World's 'largest' green hydrogen plant construction reaches 80% completion
NEOM Green Hydrogen Project in Saudi Arabia has reached an 80% construction completion across all sites, as per Air Products.
Makkah and Madinah (Hajj and Umrah) and a booming tourism sector that already contributes around 5% of the GDP. Unlikely to slow down any time soon.
Then you have the human capital and a native population almost 30-35 times larger. A population that could easily grow by naturalizing the millions of Arab and non-Arab residents (something that I am personally in favor of on an annual basis for people who deserve it and can contribute to the country).
Another little comparison:
PIF assets rise to $1.15T
02/01/2026 Argaam
Logo of Public Investment Fund (PIF)
The Public Investment Fund (PIF) ranked fifth among the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds (SWFs), after its net assets amounted to $1.15 trillion, recent data from the SWF Institute showed.
PIF's assets rose by $226 billion from $925 billion by the end of December 2024.
PIF assets rise to $1.15T
The Public Investment Fund (PIF) ranked fifth among the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds (SWFs), after its net assets amounted to $1.15 trillion
In other words, within a span of merely 12 months, the PIF alone had a growth almost as big as half of the total UAE GDP.
Any way I am not going to deny, never had and never will, that UAE (in particular under the late Zayed - a great and respected Arab leader) grew from a collection of sleepy coastal trade towns and small emirates focused on trade, pearls etc. tucked into the southeastern corner of Eastern Arabia and turned the UAE into a pioneer on many fronts. For instance they were one of the first nations in the world to create their own sovereign wealth fund (2 trillion USD), they managed to rebrand their country and turn it into a major tourism, banking and aviation center of the world. They have done very well in terms of infrastructure as well for instance Abu Dhabi (which I ironically much prefer as a city compared to Dubai) is very well developed. Better than Riyadh in my view or Jeddah (even though we are catching up). So there is that.
However you can only do so much if you have a native population of around 1.5 million people.
The Saudi economy was always more diversified and deeper than the UAe economy.
The UAE has made itself an important ally to Israel as well as an operational node globally for finance and banking.
This is part of the reason that must embolden the UAE, it's power derives from being an enabler through using influence they have accumulated. This does not need a big population. It just needs an economy to sustain the rulersn and it can hire whoever it needs
So if the Saudis want to replace the UAE as the financial node for the middle East, I don't think that's the only reason, as you illustrate Saudi has its own heft
So then what is it? Is it the uae's geo political ambitions, if that's the case then that is the same as taking on Israel which effectively they have stated.
If it is just for more money and influence that would be disappointing to many.
The only substantive change based on recent events would be for the Saudis to pressure the UAE into reducing Israeli schemes significantly.
But can the UAE even do that themselves?
_Arabia_
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- #41
Actually KSA was doing worse (underlining data) than the UAE for decades (compared to population size), largely due to KSA's own self-sabotage from 1979 onwards (Grand Mosque Seizure).
Until around the early 2010's (to simplify it, of course there were good and bad times throughout this long period). It was not until MbS and the new administration under King Salman that realized that what worked in the past would no longer work in the future and that KSA had no other option but to reform in almost every sphere. Hence the unprecedented changes within KSA in the past 10 years, mostly for the better on almost all fronts, which underlining data confirms, whether economic or everything else.
This was our 9/11 and one cannot underestimate the long-term effects of this event. It took 30 + years for the country to move forward from this unfortunate event. You have no idea how much money, potential, human capital etc. was wasted. A whole generation's potential was severely limited and the entire country limited itself deliberately out of fear of another repeat. MbS grow up in the aftermatch of this. I did as well. Which is why this is personal for us and why I am strongly in favor of the reforms
Yes but you forget that the financial capital in the region is KSA, not UAE. Look at the Saudi Arabian Exchange and compare it to the UAE. There are more regional headquarters based in KSA already than in UAE. I even believe that the tourism numbers in KSA are now greater.
All this is remarkable within such a short time span.
Which would explain why Abu Dhabi have adopted such a desperate foreign police in relation to KSA and why they are so eager to weaken KSA. They are simply feeling the heat. What would otherwise explain it? I believe that they are afraid of losing their influence to KSA more and more for every year that goes by. But as I wrote, I do not think that they can escape this reality as the gap will only keep increasing. Unless of course KSA will somehow be embroiled in some long-term conflict, war or somehow faces internal disruption.
Or maybe, at one point in time, KSA and Israel itself (without needing the UAE for anything) will reach some kind of understanding? Look at it from the Israeli viewpoint, would KSA or UAE offer them more? There is no comparison really. KSA have far more natural wealth, mineral, rare earth etc. All keys for the main Israeli industries. Let alone human capital. Not least geographic proximity, take a look at a map and see where KSA is located in relation to Palestine/Israel and where UAE is located.
I am not underestimating the ability of UAE to cause great harm, they have already done that, but I respectfully believe that you are overrating their influence and abilities a bit. Or I could be wrong here of course, hence our discussion.
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r3alist
Elite Member
This is what it might be, and for Israel the UAE is very discardable relative to the Saudis
The Saudis have a bigger stock exchange but they do not have the global network access that the UAE has especially after the Abraham accords, this is where the UAE is most effective
This is probably what the Saudis may desire for themselves especially with neom not taking pace and other ambitions, because the Saudis also need the type of Western acceptance that the UAE has been gaining
But then again, the statement from the Saudis is quite strong, they have called the uae a Trojan horse, and you would imagine they cannot credibly go from saying that to ultimately working closer with Israel.
We probably don't have the full disclosure of all the Saudi concerns, they are operating in a manner that they feel the need to be proactive and assertive even if it upsets Israel or USA
_Arabia_
SpeedLimited
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- #43
Not sure about your second claim. Any data that backs this claim up? I am asking from a position of ignorance as I don't recall seeing data that confirms this. I could be wrong though.
NEOM is one out of literally 100's of mega projects currently being constructed within KSA. It has been scaled down and changed on many occasions already and the initial vision was simply not feasible with the current technology available nor economically possible, even for KSA. However elements of NEOM are being built while we speak.
Sure, every country wants and needs foreign investment, KSA is no different. Even the wealthiest economy (USA) needs it. Actually in this regard KSA is also better off than the UAE.
"Foreign direct investment (FDI) in Saudi Arabia is surging in 2025, with inflows projected to reach SAR 140–150 billion, supported by over 700 multinational firms setting up regional headquarters
. Total FDI rose 10% to SAR 1.05 trillion by Q3 2025. Key drivers include a new, simplified investment law eliminating sector-specific licenses and allowing foreign freehold property ownership in designated zones like Riyadh and NEOM. "
Similar to UAE FDI.
The statement, as the professor makes clear in the video, is his own personal statement. Not that of the government. The government does not make any such direct statements about hardly any country of the world.
You are forgetting that Netanyahu and the Israeli leadership have made no secret of KSA being the crown jewel of their Ibrahim (AS) Accords as well as a key to their ideal regional vision. It has been Israel that has been pushing for KSA to join the Ibrahim (AS) Accords on a continuous basis, not KSA. Because if KSA wanted to join, this could have occurred ages ago. You, I and everyone else knows this fully well. However KSA has certain constrains in this regard that no other Muslim nation has which most of us are also aware of.
FarhanSiddiqui
Registered Member
I have stopped flying Emirates airlines and visiting UAE.
r3alist
Elite Member
I can't exactly provide any metric but UAE certainly use its global corporate network to great effect, and then if you consider that they have a more trusted position post Abraham accords it will only strengthen create further cooperation
The UAE Abraham accord did not happen overnight remember, trust would have had to have been established for years before and that's why I say they have a type of relationship with western power structures that even the Saudis may not, that is not to down play what they do have
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