Saudi Arabia and the UAE have both recently reached out to Iraq – primarily in the business domain – in an effort to improve relations with the Arab state.
Using economic engagement as a foundation for stronger strategic ties is a sound policy, as international commercial exchange has historically been a key driver of global peace and prosperity.
However, Saudi and Emirati policymakers have many options on how to rebuild their ties with Iraq, what are some of the most attractive?
In the soft power manual, to get the most out of economic ties it is critical that they involve citizens on both sides of the relationships and not just foreign representatives of the two countries.
In virtually every country, this seems like a redundant point of emphasis, since citizens dominate the economy.
When China increases its trade with the United States, this inevitably implies increasing interactions between Chinese and American citizens as Chinese companies are staffed almost exclusively by Chinese citizens and the same is true of American companies.
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But in the Arabian Gulf countries, the reverse is often true: companies are dominated by foreign workers at every level of the skill ladder.
Thus, while an Emirati trade delegation will comprise exclusively Emirati citizens, many of whom hold senior positions in the organisations that they represent, when it comes to the execution of a contract, on the Emirati side, one might find that foreigners become the day-to-day points of contact, since they represent more than 80 per cent of the UAE workforce.
Commercially, this distinction is of no consequence, but in the soft power domain, if one wants business interests to become effective channels for exerting geo-political influence, there needs to be a robust, day-to-day relationship between Emirati citizens and their Iraqi counterparts, unmediated by foreigners who are doing their jobs properly without having a stake in the UAE's foreign relations. Direct human contact is how mutual affinity is established and maintained – consider how much stronger your face-to-face friendships are than those acquired exclusively over social media.
Therefore, both Saudi Arabia and the UAE should consider focusing their efforts on nurturing business relations with Iraq on the sectors and companies that are staffed overwhelmingly by Saudis and Emiratis.
Moreover, they should emphasise agreements where the mutual economic benefits depend upon the establishment of high frequency, physical bonds between citizens on both sides.
If that happens to be in the petrochemicals sector, for example, then Saudi and Emirati engineers should be the hands on the deck from the Gulf side, with foreigners playing a support role at best. This should not be interpreted as xenophobia, rather, it represents an attempt at using your citizens as your foreign policy ambassadors – a normal state of affairs.
Maximising soft power also requires building civil society relationships that complement and reinforce those between the political and business leaders of both countries.
The weakness of autonomous civil society bonds between Saudi Arabia and the US was a contributing factor to congress passing the justice against sponsors of terrorism act last year, enabling US victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks to sue the kingdom.
Deeper day-to-day ties between ordinary Americans and Saudis would quickly dispel the myth that the latter are supporters of terrorism. And even the most banal Turkish television soap opera has managed to enhance the attractiveness of Turkey as a tourist destination for Gulf citizens.
In the context of Gulf-Iraqi relations, there are fertile grounds for the sort of cultural exchange that would complement a deepening of economic ties.
Citizens on both sides speak the same language, practice the same religion, enjoy the same food and follow the same TV shows – but with enough small differences to make engagement worthwhile for both sides.
Saudi and Emirati academics and students should spend time in Iraqi universities, there should be mutual visits by football teams, boy scouts, trade guilds and so on. Once such exchanges become organic and spontaneous, the result will be a greater alignment of the foreign policy interests of Iraq and the Gulf countries, with citizens on both sides reaping the benefits.
Naturally, similar principles apply to all of the Gulf countries' foreign relationships and not just those with Iraq. In the context of the western countries that annually receive thousands of foreign students from Saudi Arabia, UAE and elsewhere, the Arab governments should consider requiring their citizens to volunteer in western non-profits as a condition for getting a scholarship.
Co-authoring at least one paper with foreigners should be a precondition for Gulf PhD students studying in another country at the government's expense.
And there should be a generous prize reserved for the Gulf citizen who successfully convinces contemporary international restaurants to include kabsa in their menu as often as they include pizza, sushi, and quesadilla.
Omar Al Ubaydli is the programme director for international and geo-political studies at Derasat, Bahrain.
We welcome economics questions from our readers via email (omar@omar.ec) or tweet (@omareconomics)
The Ashes
Results
First Test, Brisbane: Australia won by 10 wickets
Second Test, Adelaide: Australia won by 120 runs
Third Test, Perth: Australia won by an innings and 41 runs
Fourth Test: Melbourne: Drawn
Fifth Test: Australia won by an innings and 123 runs
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
The specs: 2019 Infiniti QX50
Price, base: Dh138,000 (estimate)
Engine: 2.0L, turbocharged, in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission
Power: 268hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque: 380Nm @ 4,400rpm
Fuel economy: 6.7L / 100km (estimate)
The specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
Torque: 475Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Price: From Dh215,900
On sale: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
How green is the expo nursery?
Some 400,000 shrubs and 13,000 trees in the on-site nursery
An additional 450,000 shrubs and 4,000 trees to be delivered in the months leading up to the expo
Ghaf, date palm, acacia arabica, acacia tortilis, vitex or sage, techoma and the salvadora are just some heat tolerant native plants in the nursery
Approximately 340 species of shrubs and trees selected for diverse landscape
The nursery team works exclusively with organic fertilisers and pesticides
All shrubs and trees supplied by Dubai Municipality
Most sourced from farms, nurseries across the country
Plants and trees are re-potted when they arrive at nursery to give them room to grow
Some mature trees are in open areas or planted within the expo site
Green waste is recycled as compost
Treated sewage effluent supplied by Dubai Municipality is used to meet the majority of the nursery’s irrigation needs
Construction workforce peaked at 40,000 workers
About 65,000 people have signed up to volunteer
Main themes of expo is ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ and three subthemes of opportunity, mobility and sustainability.
Expo 2020 Dubai to open in October 2020 and run for six months
Dark Souls: Remastered
Developer: From Software (remaster by QLOC)
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Price: Dh199
Iftar programme at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding
Established in 1998, the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding was created with a vision to teach residents about the traditions and customs of the UAE. Its motto is ‘open doors, open minds’. All year-round, visitors can sign up for a traditional Emirati breakfast, lunch or dinner meal, as well as a range of walking tours, including ones to sites such as the Jumeirah Mosque or Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood.
Every year during Ramadan, an iftar programme is rolled out. This allows guests to break their fast with the centre’s presenters, visit a nearby mosque and observe their guides while they pray. These events last for about two hours and are open to the public, or can be booked for a private event.
Until the end of Ramadan, the iftar events take place from 7pm until 9pm, from Saturday to Thursday. Advanced booking is required.
For more details, email openminds@cultures.ae or visit www.cultures.ae
Company%20profile%20
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SERIE A FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Saturday
Roma v Udinese (5pm)
SPAL v Napoli (8pm)
Juventus v Torino (10.45pm)
Sunday
Sampdoria v AC Milan (2.30pm)
Inter Milan v Genoa (5pm)
Crotone v Benevento (5pm)
Verona v Lazio (5pm)
Cagliari v Chievo (5pm)
Sassuolo v Bologna (8pm)
Fiorentina v Atalanta (10.45pm)
Under 19 Cricket World Cup, Asia Qualifier
Fixtures
Friday, April 12, Malaysia v UAE
Saturday, April 13, UAE v Nepal
Monday, April 15, UAE v Kuwait
Tuesday, April 16, UAE v Singapore
Thursday, April 18, UAE v Oman
UAE squad
Aryan Lakra (captain), Aaron Benjamin, Akasha Mohammed, Alishan Sharafu, Anand Kumar, Ansh Tandon, Ashwanth Valthapa, Karthik Meiyappan, Mohammed Faraazuddin, Rishab Mukherjee, Niel Lobo, Osama Hassan, Vritya Aravind, Wasi Shah
MATCH INFO
Euro 2020 qualifier
Ukraine 2 (Yaremchuk 06', Yarmolenko 27')
Portugal 1 (Ronaldo 72' pen)
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh135,000
Engine 1.6L turbo
Gearbox Six speed automatic with manual and sports mode
Power 165hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 240Nm @ 1,400rpm 0-100kph: 9.2 seconds
Top speed 420 kph (governed)
Fuel economy, combined 35.2L / 100km (est)
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5
Company%20Profile
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
All or Nothing
Amazon Prime
Four stars
The essentials
What: Emirates Airline Festival of Literature
When: Friday until March 9
Where: All main sessions are held in the InterContinental Dubai Festival City
Price: Sessions range from free entry to Dh125 tickets, with the exception of special events.
Hot Tip: If waiting for your book to be signed looks like it will be timeconsuming, ask the festival’s bookstore if they have pre-signed copies of the book you’re looking for. They should have a bunch from some of the festival’s biggest guest authors.
Information: www.emirateslitfest.com
Company%20Profile
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The biog
Age: 46
Number of Children: Four
Hobby: Reading history books
Loves: Sports
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
Qosty Byogaani
Starring: Hani Razmzi, Maya Nasir and Hassan Hosny
Four stars
SPECS
Engine: Two-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 235hp
Torque: 350Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Price: From Dh167,500 ($45,000)
On sale: Now
How Alia's experiment will help humans get to Mars
Alia’s winning experiment examined how genes might change under the stresses caused by being in space, such as cosmic radiation and microgravity.
Her samples were placed in a machine on board the International Space Station. called a miniPCR thermal cycler, which can copy DNA multiple times.
After the samples were examined on return to Earth, scientists were able to successfully detect changes caused by being in space in the way DNA transmits instructions through proteins and other molecules in living organisms.
Although Alia’s samples were taken from nematode worms, the results have much bigger long term applications, especially for human space flight and long term missions, such as to Mars.
It also means that the first DNA experiments using human genomes can now be carried out on the ISS.
HAJJAN
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Company%20profile
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Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
Rating: 4/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: N2 Technology
Founded: 2018
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Startups
Size: 14
Funding: $1.7m from HNIs
Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE squad
Rahul Chopra (captain), Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Waseem, Omid Rahman, Rahul Bhatia, Tanish Suri, Vishnu Sukumaran, Vriitya Aravind
Fixtures
Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman
Saturday, November 9 – Netherlands v UAE
Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
RESULT
Al Hilal 4 Persepolis 0
Khribin (31', 54', 89'), Al Shahrani 40'
Red card: Otayf (Al Hilal, 49')
