Iran in UAE Foreign Policy (1992–2018): The UAE’s Search for Identity

Document Type : Original Article

Author

sam Mohammadpour

Postdoctoral Fellow, Faculty of World Studies, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

10.22067/ips.2026.63500.0

Abstract

From a constructivist perspective, foreign policy crises often coincide with processes of identity formation. In this context, the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) foreign policy toward Iran between 1992 and 2018 can be interpreted as part of an effort to reconstruct a distinct Emirati national identity. The UAE’s complex internal structure and cultural diversity make identity a central element of its raison d’être. By adopting antagonistic policies toward Iran, UAE leaders have sought to rally domestic public opinion in order to reinforce national unity and nationalism. At the regional level, portraying Iran as an “enemy” or a definitive “Other” has elevated the UAE’s profile in the Persian Gulf and enabled its leaders to redefine national interests in identity-based terms. Iran’s domestic challenges and its comparatively weakened regional role during this period further encouraged Abu Dhabi to pursue this approach. Consequently, the UAE’s unfriendly stance toward Iran aligns with its nation-building objectives by consolidating internal political cohesion and seeking validation and support within its regional environment. These policies of tension, therefore, are not merely expressions of power politics but serve the UAE’s identity-driven strategy for regime legitimacy and regional stature.

Keywords

Constructivism

Foreign Policy

Nation-Building

Persian Gulf Politics

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