The UAE has been relentless in supporting a global vision in which nations of different cultures and traditions nonetheless work together in a spirit based on tolerance and mutual respect, working for the support of stable and transparent institutions that foster the individuals’ ability to seek their own ambitions.

All this is coming from the UAE’s own identity as a Muslim and Arab state in the Gulf and requires active support from the UAE government for a range of principles that include backing the application of international law, liberal trade and economic policies as well as resistance to extremism, violence, and hatred.

The success that the UAE has achieved in articulating this vision for its foreign policy actions has gained the country international respect around the world.

One significant illustration of this is the impending decision by the 34 Schengen Group members of the European Union to give UAE citizens a visa waiver allowing UAE citizens to enter Schengen Group countries without arranging a visa in advance. The vote in favour was made by the European Parliament last June but the final implementation is about to happen in a matter of days, and it will make the UAE the first Arab state, the second in the Middle East and the third Islamic state to be recognised in this manner.

It is not often that foreign policy issues have an immediate popular impact but this change will be very popular with UAE citizens who frequently travel to European destinations and have been harassed by inordinate delays and complications in getting their visas in advance.

These have been all the more irritating because citizens from many of the Schengen countries could enter the UAE easily and the principle of reciprocity was being ignored.

The change will also have an economic impact as businessmen will be able to travel much more easily, but the more important impact is through the EU’s recognition of the UAE as a fellow committed member of the international global community.