Le Monde: The UAE Breaks Arab Unity in the Face of Donald Trump

French newspaper Le Monde has shed light on the UAE’s stance regarding the American plan to forcibly displace Palestinians from Gaza.

In its report, translated by Arabi21, the newspaper noted that the UAE is diverging from the unified Arab front against Trump’s proposal, issued on February 4, which suggests the forced transfer of two million Palestinians from Gaza to Egypt and Jordan.

Arab Determination Against Trump’s Plan

This skepticism contrasts sharply with the firm stance of key Arab states opposing Trump’s proposal. Egypt and Jordan—both of which view the forced transfer of Palestinians onto their territories as a red line—acted swiftly upon realizing that the U.S. president’s plan was not merely a passing obsession.

Jordan’s King Abdullah II was the first to take an assertive position, visibly tense as he engaged in this sensitive matter. During his meeting with Trump in Washington on February 11, he pointed to the existence of an alternative Arab plan.

Committed to a Palestinian State

Meanwhile, Egypt announced an emergency Arab summit in Cairo on February 27 to present this alternative. Saudi Arabia, too, emerged as a staunch defender of the two-state solution since the onset of the war on Gaza. The kingdom hosted an Arab contact group to discuss post-war reconstruction and governance plans, firmly rejecting Trump’s proposal.

Saudi Arabia’s opposition intensified after Trump questioned its commitment to a Palestinian state. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu further provoked tensions by suggesting that Saudi Arabia had “ample space” to accommodate Palestinians.

In an interview with CNN, Prince Turki Al-Faisal, Saudi Arabia’s former ambassador to the U.S. and the U.K., reaffirmed the kingdom’s unwavering commitment to the Palestinian cause. His remarks fueled a wave of scathing criticism from Saudi commentators, who denounced Netanyahu as an “extremist.”

UAE’s Strategic Calculation

Hussein Ibish, a Gulf affairs expert at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, explained that while the UAE is not outright opposing a unified Arab position, it is taking a more cautious approach toward Trump’s plan. The Emirates, he noted, feels entangled in its agreements with both Trump and Netanyahu, whereas the stronger rhetoric against the proposal is coming from Egypt and Jordan, backed by Saudi Arabia.

As part of the Abraham Accords signed in 2020—with Bahrain, Morocco, Trump, and Netanyahu—the UAE normalized ties with the Israeli occupation. Since the war on Gaza erupted, the UAE has toughened its tone against Israel without revisiting its overall policy toward the Zionist entity. On February 5, Abu Dhabi reaffirmed its unequivocal rejection of any violation of Palestinians’ inalienable rights or any forced displacement attempts, reiterating its commitment to a Palestinian state.

However, Yousef Al Otaiba, a veteran diplomat in Washington, hinted at doubts regarding the Arab world’s ability to present a plan that would satisfy Trump.

According to Al Arabiya, Egypt is considering establishing security zones to ensure the return of Gaza’s residents, with international companies leading reconstruction efforts under Arab and European sponsorship. Gulf nations have repeatedly affirmed their readiness to provide substantial financial, political, and logistical support for Gaza’s reconstruction—under Palestinian governance.