Soft power and enhancing state’s international position: the case study of the United Arab Emirates

As the trade relations of the United Arab Emirate (UAE) grow, so does its political role and obligations to maintain peace and stability in its neighbourhood in particular and in the world in general. The UAE has always been known for its policy of international institutionalism and its belief in the achievement of peace through multilateral dialogue within the respective international institutions, most notably the United Nations. The ascension of the importance of UAE in the global political economy is further underlined by the fact that it is an Arabic and Islamic country with modern institutions and therefore is well placed to be a key player between the East and the West. This could be of particular value in the context of recent struggles in the Middle East. The growing importance of the UAE in the Gulf regions further lies in the increasing diversity its economic prosperity continues to attract. The country is a meeting point for different cultures and people of diverse backgrounds. From professionals to academics to migrant workers, all these groups have found their place in the UAE today. Bringing these groups together is nevertheless a considerable task.