UAE accelerates alternative trade, energy routes after Iranian attacks: Gargash

Dubai: The UAE is accelerating plans to expand port capacity on its east coast, strengthen pipeline and railway networks, and develop alternative corridors for goods following lessons from the recent regional crisis, His Excellency Dr Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President, said on Monday. The measures are aimed at ensuring that the UAE’s energy exports, trade and wider economic activity are not vulnerable to disruption, with Gargash saying the country is taking a proactive approach based on advance planning and rapid implementation. Gargash was speaking at the opening of the third annual Hili Forum, organised by the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research and the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy in Abu Dhabi under the theme, ‘Gulf at Crossroads: Conflict, Consequences and Course Correction’. The forum brings together 75 speakers and around 1,000 participants from 35 countries, including senior officials. Many of these plans were already in place before the crisis, he said, but recent events have accelerated their timelines and increased the urgency of their implementation. The moves come after what Gargash described as an unprecedented challenge for the UAE over the past six months. 3,300 missiles and drones launched towards UAE Gargash said Iran launched around 3,300 missiles and drones towards the UAE, the vast majority of which targeted civilian infrastructure and civilians. He said the attacks destroyed, within hours, bridges in relations that had taken many years to build. Gargash described the recent conflict as “a war we worked hard to avoid”, warning that major conflicts do not end simply when military operations stop, but leave behind political, security and strategic consequences that can last for years or even decades. He praised the UAE Armed Forces for their response to the attacks. “I can simply describe this as a military achievement, and indeed it was a remarkable achievement, for which we pay tribute to our highly capable Armed Forces,” Gargash said. But he stressed that the UAE’s response went beyond military success and reflected comprehensive national readiness that helped protect the country’s achievements and safeguard citizens and residents. The UAE faced the challenge “with confidence and determination”, he said, drawing strength from its leadership, the professionalism of state institutions and the unity of its people. Gargash was speaking at the opening of the third annual Hili Forum, organised by the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research and the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy in Abu Dhabi under the theme, ‘Gulf at Crossroads: Conflict, Consequences and Course Correction’. The forum brings together 75 speakers and around 1,000 participants from 35 countries, including senior officials. UAE economy continued to grow Despite the security challenges, Gargash said the crisis had not prompted the UAE to lower its ambitions or change its development goals. “The UAE’s non-oil foreign trade grew by 13 per cent in the first half of the year compared with the same period last year,” he said. While some sectors had naturally been affected, the economy had not stalled, he said, but continued to grow and expand, particularly in sectors on which the country’s future depends. Despite the exceptional circumstances, Gargash said the UAE had also continued to meet its commitments to citizens, residents and visitors, maintaining its promise to provide a safe, stable and prosperous environment for those who choose to build their lives in the country. Strategic autonomy Gargash said the past six months had reshaped the region’s strategic landscape and created a Gulf environment that was “more complex and uncertain” than before. Strategic autonomy, he said, was no longer simply a slogan but had become a “rational political reality” based on what it practically delivers for national security and interests. For the UAE, this means maintaining economic growth, ensuring the safety of its people and preserving independent national decision-making. The Iranian attacks on Gulf states had also reordered strategic calculations across the region, bringing maritime security, trade and energy security back to the forefront, he said. At the same time, Gargash stressed that strategic autonomy did not mean strategic isolation. Long-term partnerships, particularly the UAE’s partnership with the United States, remained an essential part of the country’s security and an important source of strength, he said. Relations with Iran Gargash said dealing with Iran remained a central issue for all Gulf states because geography makes Iran a neighbour that cannot be ignored. At some point, countries in the region would need to find a way to restore “what can be restored” in their relationship with Iran, he said. However, he stressed the distinction between rebuilding a necessary, functional relationship and rebuilding trust, which had been severely damaged. Gargash said Ira