Peacemaker and architect of the Abraham Accords
The peace deal promises hope for a better tomorrow for millions of Arabs and non-arab expatriates in a region marred by protracted conflicts
On September 15, 2020, the then US president Donald Trump hosted the foreign ministers of the UAE, Bahrain, and Israel’s then prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the White House’s South Lawn. The peace deal that the two Arab countries signed with Israel on that historic day was the brainchild of the President, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who was then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
The architect behind the Abraham Accords that changed the face of Middle East geopolitics was content to watch a new era of peace and security dawning on his country from a distance in his native Abu Dhabi.
The new UAE President seldom speaks in public but his words and vision are heard loud and clear not just across the UAE, but throughout the corridors of power in the region.
Unquestionably one of the most powerful Arab leaders in the world, Sheikh Mohamed has catapulted the UAE into the world stage.
While he is a Sandhurst-trained soldier, his legacy is that of a peacemaker who not only ended decadesold hostilities with Israel but forged diplomatic relations with the country.
“The UAE aspires to a greater peace, one that is for the benefit of all,” he said after winning the prestigious Scholar-statesman Award from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
He said he drew inspiration from his father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin
Sultan Al Nahyan, who he described as a man of peace and compassion. He said the Uae-israel peace is important “to send a clear message to the world and the region that we are striving for peace”.
The peace deal was seen by some as a watering down of the Palestinian cause. But Sheikh Mohamed explained the reason for the decision. “Every decision has risks, undoubtedly, and we are also living in a complex region. But the rewards are an incentive and the outcomes we will achieve together are far greater than the drawbacks,” he said.
His words rang true throughout the last two years as his peace deal created a domino effect, causing other countries following suit.
On December 22, 2020, Morocco signed a declaration announcing the renewal of diplomatic relations with Israel, in the spirit of the Abraham Accords.
Sudan, too, followed suit as the African nation announced a normalisation of relations with Israel in October 2020, leading to a declaration signed in Khartoum on January 6, 2021.
Trade and people-to-people relations have since flourished between Israel and the UAE. Despite the raging Covid-19 pandemic, over 130,000 Israelis visited the UAE in the first four and a half months after the Abraham Accords were signed.
Since the signing of the historic pact, the volume of trade between Israel and the UAE and Bahrain has risen tremendously, opening immense business opportunities for both the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
Government officials and business leaders have signed high-level cooperation agreements and memorandum of understanding (Mous) in diverse fields of investments such as energy cooperation, food security, technology, and healthcare, among other areas.
Both countries established embassies, leading to a flurry of high-profile visits between the two governments.
According to the Abraham Accords Peace Institute, a nonpartisan, non-profit US organisation dedicated to supporting the implementation and expansion of the historic peace agreements, the peace agreements have the potential to transform the region, creating a new Middle East corridor of prosperity, stability, and trade.
“While the historic Abraham Accords have led to an exciting surge in economic ties between Israel and its new Arab partners, the Accords’ promise goes much deeper than bilateral business deals,” it said.
The pact, many saw, also stitched together a strong new security blanket against the Iranian influence in the region.
The deepening diplomatic relationships have further provided a platform for both the UAE and Israel to cooperate on issues such as reducing regional tensions, combating terrorism, and mitigating the impact of the climate change crisis.
By pulling the right diplomatic strings and making the Abraham Accords a reality, the biggest gift Sheikh Mohamed has given the people of the region is that of hope. In a region marred by protracted conflicts, the peace deal shines a beacon of hope for a better tomorrow for millions of Arabs and nonarab expatriates.
The UAE aspires to a greater peace, one that is for the benefit of all. The Uaeisrael peace is important to send a clear message to the world and the region that we are striving for peace”