Five events reshaping Arab world named

Forum lists political Islam, Daesh, pro-Iran militia, Qatar boycott and Saudi reforms

The Arab Strategy Forum, in collaboration with the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, yesterday issued a report analysing five key events that could drastically shift the future of the Arab world.

The report, titled Five Key Events that are Reshaping Arab Realities, is one of many annual studies published by the forum, which takes place on Wednesday in Dubai.

The five events the report focuses on are the crisis of political Islam, the rise and fall of Daesh, the rise of pro-Iranian non-state actors, the Qatar boycott, and the socioeconomic reforms in Saudi Arabia.

The report was launched at a panel discussion ahead of the forum, led by Hussain Ibish, senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute, and Mohammad Al Hammadi, editor in chief of Alroeya newspaper.

One of the most significant outcomes of the Arab Spring has been the brief rise, sudden fall and ongoing crisis of the Islamist movements associated with the Muslim Brotherhood, the report said.

The report said some countries of the GCC region, including the UAE, demonstrate the potential of an Arab society that is multireligious, culturally and ethnically diverse.

UAE model

According to the report, some countries of the GCC region, including the UAE, demonstrate the potential of an Arab society that is multi-religious, culturally and ethnically diverse, and religiously and socially tolerant.

The report notes that the struggle against some of the most vicious forms of armed religious extremism in the past five years has focused on combating the rise of Daesh.

It also said that a different set of extremist non-state actors threatens the contemporary Middle East — the pro-Iranian militias. According to the report, one of the most problematic elements in the network of Iranian-backed extremist and non-state actors is the Al Houthi militia in Yemen.

According to the report, the boycott of Qatar by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt that began in early June 2017 resonated on a regional and global level.

The report also said the dramatic transformation of Saudi society has broader regional resonance and significance. Saudi Arabia has emerged as a decisive regional power with the UAE as its strongest regional partner.