Introduction: A Small State with Global Reach

Despite being a relatively small Gulf nation—83,600 km² in size and home to just over ten million people, most of whom are foreign workers—the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has systematically positioned itself as a global power broker. Through massive financial investments, diplomatic maneuvering, and a vast lobbying network, Abu Dhabi is reshaping political narratives in Washington, Brussels, and beyond. This investigation reveals the inner workings of the UAE’s expansive lobbying infrastructure, its geopolitical ambitions, and the troubling implications of its influence.

The Strategy Behind the Influence

The UAE’s ambitions go far beyond regional dominance. Under the leadership of Mohammed bin Zayed, a Sandhurst-trained ruler known for his calculated foreign policy approach, the country has crafted a strategy to wield disproportionate global influence.

In the words of former UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Abdul Khaleq Bargash, “We want to be a global player… taking some strategic risks to break these barriers.” These risks include forging controversial alliances, influencing foreign governments, and orchestrating covert political operations.

The UAE has been labeled “Little Sparta” by former U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis—a nod to its militarized foreign policy and tight strategic alignment with Western powers. But behind the flattering nickname lies a deeply calculated agenda.

Weaponizing Lobbying and Soft Power

According to the Corporate Europe Observatory, the UAE is one of the most aggressive foreign states utilizing lobbying as a vehicle to build soft power in the West. The Gulf monarchy channels tens of millions of dollars annually to influence think tanks, universities, policy circles, and media platforms. The aim is clear: rebrand the UAE as a “moderate, stable ally” while shielding its human rights abuses and regional interference from scrutiny.

This image management is carried out through coordinated public relations campaigns, direct political lobbying, and funding of academic institutions that generate UAE-friendly research. The Emirates portrays itself as a force against extremism while suppressing any form of political pluralism, including civil society movements and democratic dissent.

The Machinery of the Lobby: Washington and Brussels

In the United States, the UAE has spent over $150 million on lobbying efforts since 2016. It is also a top donor to American universities and think tanks, many of which produce favorable policy papers and provide platforms to UAE officials.

The National Intelligence Council, which oversees strategic intelligence coordination in the U.S., produced a confidential report in 2022 detailing how the UAE exploited loopholes in disclosure laws to influence American foreign policy. It revealed that UAE agents had sought to manipulate lawmakers, finance campaigns, and hire ex-military officials to advance Emirati interests.

Notable examples include:

The hiring of former U.S. intelligence officers who admitted to helping the UAE surveil critics, journalists, and activists.

The recruitment of Thomas Barrack, a Trump ally, who allegedly passed sensitive information to UAE officials.

Jim Mattis, who sought employment with the UAE after his military retirement, further cementing high-level ties.

In Europe, the UAE’s lobbying network includes firms such as Project Associates, Bosola Institute, and Westphalia Global Advisory. These entities shape discourse within EU institutions and shield Abu Dhabi’s domestic repression and foreign interventions from European criticism.

Regional Destabilization as a Tool of Influence

Beyond the West, the UAE has actively interfered in the affairs of other countries to expand its strategic footprint:

In Yemen, the UAE built private militias, supported separatist movements, and seized control of critical ports like Aden and Socotra.

In Libya, it backed warlord Khalifa Haftar, sending weapons and funds to his forces while undermining political reconciliation.

In Egypt, it was instrumental in the 2013 coup and continues to fund and support Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s repressive regime.

In Sudan, the UAE has fueled chaos by supporting paramilitary actors like the Rapid Support Forces, contributing to the country’s current instability.

In Tunisia, it has been linked to anti-democratic efforts targeting the remnants of the Arab Spring.

It has also undermined Turkey’s and Qatar’s influence through media and proxy conflicts.

Abu Dhabi has no intention of proposing solutions to these crises. Instead, it exploits them to entrench its influence and advance Western-Israeli strategic objectives.

UAE-Israel Alliance: Normalization for Militarization

The Abraham Accords have been leveraged by the UAE to access advanced weaponry and strategic cooperation with Israel. In return for diplomatic normalization, Abu Dhabi seeks F-35 fighter jets and a formal security pact with the United States.

The UAE-Israel alliance extends beyond diplomacy—it includes:

• Joint intelligence operations

• Use of Israeli surveillance technology to monitor citizens

• Shared cyber capabilities and AI development

• Regional energy and security coordination

Through this pact, the UAE has become an extension of Israeli and Western interests in the Arab world, undermining grassroots movements and normalizing apartheid as a security necessity.

Changing the Region’s Identity

Cloaked under the slogans of “tolerance” and “modernity,” the UAE has sponsored efforts to dilute Arab and Islamic identity. It funds religious reform initiatives while simultaneously crushing any independent Islamic political expression, from Hamas to the Muslim Brotherhood to Ennahda.

This manufactured narrative portrays the UAE as a secular guardian of order. Yet behind the façade lies a calculated attempt to silence dissent and preserve authoritarian control across the region.

Conclusion: Global Ambitions, Local Repression

The UAE has built the most powerful and well-funded lobbying infrastructure of any Arab state. Its influence is felt from Capitol Hill to Brussels, from Tripoli to Sana’a. It speaks the language of modernization and stability while acting to crush democratic aspirations and maintain regional autocracy.

This investigation reveals that Abu Dhabi’s true objective is regime survival, at any cost. Through lobbying, military intervention, and media manipulation, the UAE seeks to shape a global order that is safe for dictatorships but hostile to democracy and self-determination.

The question is not how far this influence can go, but what it is already costing the world.