Last week's article focused on the fact that the new international and regional changes taking place in the Arab world necessitate the development of a shared Arab vision to deal with them and require the formulation of a joint Arab understanding towards regional and major countries.

Allow me to borrow the term "Emirati bulldozer," coined by Dr. Abdul Khaleq Abdullah. I believe that this bulldozer is qualified to lead the process of Arab solidarity and coordination. The esteemed reader may recall that I previously mentioned that the national dimension in the UAE's Arab policy is overlooked by observers. The UAE is keen to consult and coordinate positions among Arab countries on Arab issues amid growing challenges facing them all, and makes achieving Arab solidarity and enhancing joint action a standard national priority in its foreign policy. This national dimension was established by the founding leader Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan, may God have mercy on him, and followed by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, President of the State, may God protect him, and is based, among other factors, on a huge amount of soft power that has made the UAE the preferred country for Arab youth to move to, work, and live in.

The priorities of the UAE's Arab policy include supporting the resolution of the Palestinian issue based on the two-state principle and supporting Palestinians politically, humanitarianly, and economically, preserving Iraq's sovereignty and regional integration and political stability and reintegrating it into the Arab system, Syria's return to the Arab fold, and supporting Sudan's stability, development, and the political settlement of the civil conflict that erupted there.

This is evidenced by the UAE's role in Arab crises and conflicts, particularly since 2011. To begin with, the UAE restructured its relations with Iraq after 2003 based on mutual interests and a national basis that prioritized standing by Iraq in its ordeal. In this regard, the UAE worked to cancel all debts owed by Iraq, participate in its reconstruction, normalize diplomatic relations with it, make efforts to lift international sanctions on Iraq, and reintegrate it into the Arab framework through its participation in the Alamein Summit in Egypt in August 2022, and the first and second Baghdad Summits for Cooperation and Partnership.

During Egypt's crisis (2011-2013), the UAE took a firm stance in supporting the "June Revolution" in 2013 and the subsequent political measures. It employed its economic and political capabilities to secure international support for Egypt and provided, and continues to provide, Egypt with tremendous political support and generous economic aid.

The UAE is also the most supportive Arab country in resolving the Syrian issue and resuming Damascus's "suspended" membership in the Arab League since 2018, following the normalization of diplomatic relations with Damascus.

During the lean years that Sudan experienced since late 2019, the UAE's position has remained constant: supporting Sudan's stability and development, the political settlement of the crisis, and supporting the consensus between civilian and military components. The UAE is currently making efforts, both within the Arab framework, especially with Egypt, and at the bilateral or international level, to mediate an end to the fighting between the army and the Rapid Support Forces.

Perhaps the latest manifestation of the UAE's role is its mediation in securing the return of Egyptian soldiers detained by the Rapid Support Forces to Cairo.

In fact, the UAE-Egypt-Saudi axis is one of the most important forms of collective action that the UAE pursues to confront factors of instability in the region, especially economic instability, to enhance regional economic ties and development on a wider scale, and to revive the Arab system.

Then came the convening of the mini-Arab summit in Abu Dhabi on January 24th, which brought together leaders from the UAE, Egypt, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman, to boost joint Arab action and complete or resume Qatari-Bahraini reconciliation efforts that began at the Al-Ula Summit (January 2021). The debate on Arab axes or groupings on the occasion of this summit prompted a decisive intervention from H.E. Dr. Anwar Gargash, the diplomatic advisor to the President of the UAE, who confirmed that the media and social media tug-of-war over axes and changes in Arab politics is unhealthy and opens the door to division and discord at a time when our region needs solidarity and unity. The diplomatic advisor to the President of the UAE emphasized that the UAE's direction is based on unity of word and rank.

In conclusion, the UAE, with its soft power reserves among Arab peoples and governments, is qualified to play the role of leading Arab solidarity; contributing to the formation of a shared Arab vision for changes, challenges, and threats at both regional and international levels in order to maximize collective Arab gains and minimize losses.