UAE’s power is Saudi Arabia’s power

“Saudi Arabia is a key pillar of the Gulf region,” said Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed during the Saudi King Salman’s recent visit to the UAE. King Salman was given an exceptional reception during the visit, combining modernity with tradition, horses with camels and sand and soil.

The Saudi king sat down with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed on a podium. It was a display of history and glories of the past as they watched a show depicting the UAE’s historical legacy. The show included dances, songs and poems by tribes saluting the honorable guest.

Words and smiles of harmony were abundantly exchanged. The Saudi delegation was happy to see unity among people of the two countries and their leaders when the region is facing extraordinary challenges.

The UAE set an example of solidarity when Saudi Arabia engaged in a war against rebellion and in support of legitimacy. Blood got mixed with blood and lives were sacrificed to safeguard values and to protect against external aggression. This is heroism and this is how strong alliances look like.

Saudi-UAE relations represent the real meaning of the union that we want among Gulf countries. This will increase economic exchange, enhance tourism and friendship among people. People will not only head for tourism or to study or to permanently live in major cities but will also go to remote cities.

There exists exceptional friendship and social partnership as the two countries shared joys and misery. The best example of that is how the people share the pain of losing some heroes on the southern front. Blood mixed with blood and tears mixed with tears. And just like misery united people, so did joy.

Saudi-UAE relations represent the real meaning of the union that we want among Gulf countries. This will increase economic exchange, enhance tourism and friendship among people

Turki Aldakhil

The King’s visit

The king rounded up his tour with a visit to Dubai, a city that he loves and that loves him. The city had renamed one of its major neighborhoods after King Salman. Commenting on the visit, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid wrote: “The relations between the kingdom and the UAE exceeded diplomatic ties and have joined as one.”

Emirati poet, Jomaa al-Ghowais, read out a poem in praise of King Salman. His poem added to the atmosphere as Ghowais spoke about cooperation between Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The king then summoned Ghowais after he recited the poem to voice his admiration of it.

Ties between the two countries could be seen through comments on social networking platforms. The royal tour to Gulf countries is essential and basic; however, the visit to the UAE was special due to the affection Saudis feel for the UAE. According to Al-Khaleej daily, around 10,000 Saudis visit the UAE on a daily basis.

The two societies

This number does not only reveal the strong relations between the two sides but also how strong ties between the two societies. Emirati television channels hosted guests who explained the roots of these relations which have been on since the UAE was established in the beginnings of the 1970s.

I write this article so the Emirati society knows about the reaction not evident during the historic and massive reception of King Salman. This reception reassures everyone that the union has in fact begun between the two countries and that it is no longer an ordinary relation.

The visit was not ordinary to begin with and the king “was not a passing guest” as Jomaa al-Ghowais put it in his beautiful poem.

It’s the first stage of cooperation and we aspire more after this. This is the Gulf region, and these are the exemplary relations which must be followed to take the Gulf Cooperation Council from this state of cooperation to the aspiration of the “union.”

This article was first published in Al-Bayan on Dec. 14, 2016.
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Turki Aldakhil is the General Manager of Al Arabiya News Channel. He began his career as a print journalist, covering politics and culture for the Saudi newspapers Okaz, Al-Riyadh and Al-Watan. He then moved to pan-Arab daily Al-Hayat and pan-Arab news magazine Al-Majalla. Turki later became a radio correspondent for the French-owned pan-Arab Radio Monte Carlo and MBC FM. He proceeded to Elaph, an online news magazine and Alarabiya.net, the news channel’s online platform. Over a ten-year period, Dakhil’s weekly Al Arabiya talk show “Edaat” (Spotlights) provided an opportunity for proponents of Arab and Islamic social reform to make their case to a mass audience. Turki also owns Al Mesbar Studies and Research Centre and Madarek Publishing House in Dubai. He has received several awards and honors, including the America Abroad Media annual award for his role in supporting civil society, human rights and advancing women’s roles in Gulf societies. He tweets @TurkiAldakhil.