The UAE’s Strategic Pursuit of Red Sea Influence

Eiad Husham on Maritime Ambitions

Eiad Husham highlights the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) long-term strategy to secure access to the Red Sea through ports, airports, and infrastructure projects. This strategy is not merely about economic growth; it’s a calculated effort to emerge as a maritime power within a geopolitically significant region.

Port Sudan: A Case Study in Resistance

In early 2019, workers at Port Sudan, Sudan’s primary maritime hub, demonstrated against a controversial 20-year concession that sought to hand control of the South Port Container Terminal to a foreign operator thought to be fronting Emirati interests. This impasse left cranes standing still and cargo ships adrift as 1,800 dockworkers demanded protection for their jobs. They claimed the agreement would displace 80% of them, serving as a stark reminder of the human cost of corporate forays into their livelihoods.

Ultimately, the strike succeeded in suspending the deal. However, it marked the beginning of a series of Emirati attempts to control Sudan’s vital port, each of which was accompanied by backlash from local labor and political groups. Despite initial failures, the UAE’s relentless push maintained a consistent focus on gaining influence and leverage in the Red Sea region.

A History of Geopolitical Maneuvering

The Red Sea has long been a coveted maritime route, linking European trade to the Indian Ocean via the Suez Canal. Control over its ports equates to oversight of significant shipping routes, making it a focal point for global trade. The UAE’s interests here are not new; they represent a form of “modern imperialism,” where economic transactions drive geopolitical strategy, often at the expense of local sovereignty.

Crisis as a Strategy

The ongoing war in Sudan, which erupted in April 2023, has fostered conditions conducive to UAE ambitions. While other nations focus on stabilizing regions, Abu Dhabi has learned to turn instability into opportunity. In conflict zones, the UAE thrives, presenting itself as a stabilizing force that can negotiate investments and terms often favorable to its interests.

Husham references Dr. Wael Fahmi, who characterizes the UAE’s approach as “textbook geoeconomics,” where crises are utilized to extract value through investments, logistics, and even militias. This model has seen the UAE invest an estimated $60 billion in infrastructure across Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, reinforcing its strategic footprint.

Ports of Influence: Berbera and Assab

Two critical examples illustrate UAE’s strategy: Berbera in Somaliland and Assab in Eritrea. In 2016, DP World signed a 30-year concession for Berbera, a deal framed around development and regional trade. Similarly, in Eritrea, the UAE gained access to Assab, which it converted into a key base for military and logistical operations in Yemen.

Each of these agreements exemplified how the UAE leveraged local crises and weaknesses to secure control, exploiting moments of diplomatic isolation to cement its role as a necessary partner, not just a financial investor.

Dual-Use Investments

UAE’s approach often marries civilian ports with military capabilities. DP World and Abu Dhabi Ports act as tools for extending Emirati influence, tightly coupling financial investments to strategic military objectives. The dual-use nature of these agreements ensures that investments can pivot from commercial to military uses, should the political landscape require it.

Economic Partnerships: The ongoing interactions with Eritrea and Somaliland showcase how investment agreements are often crafted under the guise of development but serve deeper strategic purposes. This form of “neocolonialism,” as termed by analysts, connects economic benefit for the UAE to weakened local systems.

Agriculturally Driven Interests

The UAE’s forays into agriculture reflect its domestic vulnerabilities regarding food security. By negotiating to control lands within Sudan, the UAE aims not just for agricultural expansion but to mitigate reliance on volatile global food markets. This tactic further entwines Sudan’s economy with Emirati interests—essentially trading territory and resources for promises of investment and economic growth.

The Geopolitical Chessboard: Sudan as a Strategic Pivot

Sudan’s geographic positioning is crucial for the UAE. Its Red Sea coastline and vast natural resources, particularly gold, make it an ideal target for Emirati influence. The ongoing Sudanese conflict has seen the UAE back the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group accused of crimes against humanity, a move criticized for prolonging instability while securing Emirati interests.

Tactical Alliances

Understanding Emirati engagement in Sudan requires viewing it within a broader framework, encompassing a pathway from Libya to Somalia. The UAE’s preference for non-state actors allows it to sidestep constraints of accountability tied to state governance, choosing to solidify alliances with forces like the RSF to secure military and economic outcomes.

Contract Diplomacy and Sovereignty

The collapse of another major port deal in 2024 highlights the friction between Emirates ambitions and Sudanese sovereignty. While agreements are framed as equitable, the reality often involves local powers relinquishing control over vital assets. The frustrations of Port Sudan’s workers echo widespread sentiments: partnerships touted as beneficial often translate into lost sovereignty and economic stability.

Human Costs of Expansion

Despite the UAE’s lofty ambitions, the human costs are staggering. The war in Sudan has displaced millions, and as Emirati interests continue to expand, the workers at Port Sudan feel the repercussions—in reduced wages, layoffs, and the erosion of their bargaining power. Their struggles serve as a poignant reminder of the challenges local populations face against overpowering external forces.

Resistance Amidst Expansion

Despite the overwhelming pressures, resistance still brews. The dockworkers of Port Sudan, who once halted Emirati interests in 2019, continue to express their defiance against foreign encroachment. Their motto—that the port is their lifeline—signals a deeper historical connection, linking current struggles to a longstanding legacy of labor and resistance in a region long subjected to external exploitation.

As global shipping lanes become battlegrounds for influence, the UAE’s quiet empire progresses—not through overt conquest, but through strategic contracts and infrastructural control. The interplay of resilience and oppression continues as communities navigate a future shaped by external ambitions intertwined with their own daily realities.