The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Global South will undergo significant change as a result of the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) 2024 admission to the BRICS club. This significant geopolitical initiative challenges the conventional Western-centric economic system and suggests a possible realignment within the GCC itself, highlighting the UAE’s desire to strengthen its ties with emerging economies.
UAE’s Strategic Calculus: Why BRICS Membership Matters
The United Arab Emirates’ decision to join BRICS is not just symbolic; it is a deliberate attempt to increase economic diversity and strengthen the country’s position as a link between the Global North and the Global South. Although the UAE has always had close economic and security links to both the US and Europe, changing global conditions and economic instability have forced a reassessment of strategic partnerships. The UAE has unparalleled access to new trade routes and investment opportunities, especially in the fields of energy, infrastructure, and technology, thanks to BRICS, an economic group that accounts for 40% of the world’s population and 25% of its GDP.
Additionally, the UAE’s long-term goal of economic diversification, as stated in the UAE Centennial 2071, is perfectly aligned with its membership in BRICS. It provides a different structure for collaboration, enabling the nation to strengthen relationships with rapidly expanding economies like China, India, Russia, Brazil, and South Africa while maintaining a balance with Western countries.
A Challenge to GCC Unity?
Although the UAE’s assertive foreign policy supports its strategic goals, it calls into doubt the unity of the GCC. In terms of foreign policy, the Gulf bloc has always been quite united, particularly in its support for the West. The UAE’s acceptance of BRICS, however, represents a subtle break from this custom. Although Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain have expressed differing levels of interest in BRICS, the UAE’s participation may cause the GCC to become less cohesive in terms of strategic alignments.
Despite being an observer and taking part in some BRICS efforts, Saudi Arabia in particular has shown hesitancy to completely commit to a BRICS framework. Riyadh’s attention is still on the Vision 2030 plan, which emphasises economic reform while remaining closely linked to Western technology and money. Given that both countries have historically held prominent positions within the GCC, this difference between the UAE and Saudi Arabia could put the bloc’s unity to the test.
Realigning the Gulf: A New Geopolitical Reality?
By joining BRICS, the UAE is redefining Gulf geopolitics and establishing itself as a gateway for integration of the Global South within the Gulf. It supports the goal of the Global South to create multipolarity and lessen reliance on Western institutions in order to transform global governance. The BRICS New Development Bank (NDB), for example, offers the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf states a way to obtain development money without onerous conditions, making it a competitive alternative to the IMF and World Bank.
Furthermore, the UAE’s support of BRICS is consistent with its goal of developing into a major international trading and investment hub. The UAE could greatly expand its function as a financial and logistical hub connecting Asia, Africa, and Europe by utilising BRICS alliances. The UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and the UAE-China comprehensive strategic partnership serve as examples of this, indicating a desire for strong South-South collaboration.
Implications for Global South Solidarity
The United Arab Emirates’ decision to join BRICS is representative of a larger trend in the Global South to reevaluate their foreign policy philosophies. Countries such as the United Arab Emirates are using BRICS as a platform for economic sovereignty and strategic autonomy, instead of exclusively depending on financial institutions dominated by the West. This change in stance might encourage other GCC members to reevaluate their stances on BRICS, especially if the group grows and gains more geopolitical clout.
The UAE’s participation enhances BRICS as a vibrant alliance ready to tackle systemic injustices in global governance, which benefits the Global South. It represents a practical acceptance of multipolarity, in which various economic forces work together to create a fair and inclusive global order.
Conclusion: A New Gulf Paradigm?
Greater Global South solidarity and a realignment of GCC interests may result from the UAE’s participation in BRICS. It may put traditional Gulf unity in jeopardy, but it also emphasizes how crucial it is to adjust to changing geopolitical conditions. The UAE’s strategic goal may serve as a template for other GCC nations looking to increase their worldwide influence while preserving regional unity as BRICS grows and diversifies. In this sense, the UAE is actively reinventing Gulf politics within the framework of a fast evolving global order, going beyond simply joining BRICS.
