Ahead of US President Donald Trump’s visit to the Middle East next month, it is imperative that he and his team undertake a deep reading of the ideologies that guide the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Muslim Brotherhood and the current Israeli government.
Recent history is rife with instances in which Washington played on the region’s sectarian divisions and either supported or tolerated fundamentalist forces in countries ranging from Israel to Afghanistan – the consequences of which have been dire for the Middle East and the world. So if Mr Trump intends to turn the page on US strategy in the region, there needs to be a serious reckoning with the outcomes of previous administrations’ policies in this regard. For this, the Trump team needs to think of the region in geopolitical terms rather than merely economic ones.
Take Jordan, for example, where Jewish fundamentalism is intersecting with Islamist fundamentalism in targeting the country. On the one hand, Israel’s far-right government is pursuing an expansionist project that, among other things, requires making Jordan an alternative Palestinian homeland. At the same time, the Muslim Brotherhood is seeking to overthrow King Abdullah in order to control the country.
In a way, Israel and the Muslim Brotherhood are reinforcing each other. Israel is taking advantage of the movement and its affiliates to serve its own goals in Jordan – just as it once did in Egypt and beyond. While it is well known that the Trump administration is committed to fulfilling Israel’s demands, the US President is even more invested in the principle of “America First”. It would be a huge mistake for him to allow this Israeli government to proceed with its plans, as that would amount to abandoning a strong ally in King Abdullah, which would be a strategic error.
In a way, Israel and the Muslim Brotherhood are reinforcing each other
The Muslim Brotherhood’s sustenance is not in America’s interest. Its resurgence in parts of North Africa is alarming – particularly in Libya, which has become a fertile ground for extremism on the African continent, on the shores of the Mediterranean, and at the gates of Europe. It would be unwise for Washington to entertain the simplistic equation, as past US administrations have, that supports or tolerates extremism of the Muslim Brotherhood variety as a counterbalance to extremism of the kind fostered by the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Speaking of which, it is important that US policy on Iran not be limited to securing a deal with Tehran to curb its nuclear weapons programme. Postponing a discussion about its regional behaviour, which involves aiding and abetting the spread of armed proxies aligned to its ideological doctrine, to a later stage – just because it could interfere with what was already agreed upon on the nuclear file – would be a dangerous gamble.
The Trump team should be clear from the outset that it won’t repeat the mistakes of former US president Barack Obama, who had submitted to Iranian conditions that prohibit any discussion of the doctrine of proxies. The current ambiguity in Washington has further emboldened Hezbollah to double down on its policy of bearing arms and operating as a state within the Lebanese state.
Jewish fundamentalism, meanwhile, may not exert influence through proxies. Nonetheless, it is the kind of fundamentalism that flagrantly violates international law and moral norms, and is driven by racism and confidence in American protection from international accountability.
Arrogance is a common denominator shared by all three fundamentalist streams and their patrons. And this puts the region, and the world, in danger – particularly with these ideologies headed for a collision. It is, therefore, essential for the Trump team to think strategically and find ways to contain them all in the long term.
The Iran-Israel equation remains the most dangerous of them. Tehran will not hesitate to launch military strikes against Israel – pre-emptive or retaliatory – if its ongoing negotiations with the Trump administration fail, or if Israel decides to bypass diplomacy and launch attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities. Military readiness and preparations, thus, accompany the negotiations.
This is an especially pertinent point following an explosion that tore through Iran’s largest commercial port at Bandar Abbas on Saturday, killing at least 25 people and leaving hundreds more injured. While Tehran appears to be treating the blast as an accident, at least thus far, this has occurred against the backdrop of years of a shadow war with Israel.
In all of this, Arab diplomacy has been noteworthy. Oman has acted as an able mediator in the US-Iran negotiations. Saudi Arabia has taken the lead in providing a space for talks and mutual understandings not just among major powers, but also between Riyadh and Tehran. But such leadership does not mean tolerating a repeat of the disastrous alliance between key European powers and the Obama administration, as well as an understanding with other powers such as Russia and China, which may have led to the 2015 nuclear deal but, ultimately, also enabled Iran’s deep interference in Arab affairs through its proxies.
Gulf diplomacy must be making significant efforts – quietly and behind the scenes – to inform and enlighten the Trump administration about the Middle East’s complexities. Their ultimate goal will be to ensure that the US President’s visit to the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia next month is visionary and productive, rather than being derailed in the maze of extremist and fundamentalist ideologies across the region.
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The specs
Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed
Power: 271 and 409 horsepower
Torque: 385 and 650Nm
Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
Silent Hill f
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rating: 4.5/5
SRI LANKS ODI SQUAD
Perera (capt), Mendis, Gunathilaka, de Silva, Nissanka, Shanaka, Bandara, Hasaranga, Udana, Dananjaya, Dickwella, Chameera, Mendis, Fernando, Sandakan, Karunaratne, Fernando, Fernando.
MATCH INFO
CAF Champions League semi-finals first-leg fixtures
Tuesday:
Primeiro Agosto (ANG) v Esperance (TUN) (8pm UAE)
Al Ahly (EGY) v Entente Setif (ALG) (11PM)
Second legs:
October 23
MATCH INFO
Rugby World Cup (all times UAE)
Final: England v South Africa, Saturday, 1pm
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MEFCC information
Tickets range from Dh110 for an advance single-day pass to Dh300 for a weekend pass at the door. VIP tickets have sold out. Visit www.mefcc.com to purchase tickets in advance.
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
RESULT
Kolkata Knight Riders 169-7 (20 ovs)
Rajasthan Royals 144-4 (20 ovs)
Kolkata win by 25 runs
Next match
Sunrisers Hyderabad v Kolkata Knight Riders, Friday, 5.30pm
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
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Price, base: Dh306,500
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
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In The Heights
Directed by: Jon M. Chu
Stars: Anthony Ramos, Lin-Manual Miranda
Rating: ****
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
Heather, the Totality
Matthew Weiner,
Canongate
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
if you go
'Outclassed in Kuwait'
Taleb Alrefai,
HBKU Press
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
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MATCH INFO
What: 2006 World Cup quarter-final
When: July 1
Where: Gelsenkirchen Stadium, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Result:
England 0 Portugal 0
(Portugal win 3-1 on penalties)
Evacuations to France hit by controversy
- Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
- Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
- The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
- Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
- It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
- Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
- Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
Racecard
5pm: Al Maha Stables – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,600m
6pm: Emirates Fillies Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m
6.30pm: Emirates Colts Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m
7pm: The President’s Cup – Group 1 (PA) Dh2,500,000 (T) 2,200m
7.30pm: The President’s Cup – Listed (TB) Dh380,000 (T) 1,400m
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
