Furthermore, the UAE’s support for multi-polarity does not imply anti-Westernism but rather seeks pluralism in global governance. The BRICS mechanism allows the UAE to assert normative agency on issues ranging from food and water security to digital transformation and development finance, without being constrained by the rigid ideological divisions of the Cold War era.

Youth diplomacy and soft power projection

Soft power is another vital aspect of the UAE’s BRICS engagement. At the sidelines of the Rio summit, the UAE led a BRICS Youth Talk initiative aimed at fostering global collaboration among young leaders. By promoting intercultural dialogue, entrepreneurship, and innovation among BRICS youth, the UAE is not only investing in the future generation of global influencers but also reinforcing its image as a progressive and globally connected state.

This initiative is consistent with the UAE’s broader emphasis on people-to-people diplomacy, especially through platforms like Expo 2020, its humanitarian engagements, and its championing of tolerance. Through its youth diplomacy, the UAE enhances its global narrative as a modern, forward-looking bridge between civilizations—a critical soft power asset in an age of polarization.

Bilateral synergies and regional anchoring

Beyond the multilateral context, the UAE’s BRICS entry has catalysed bilateral engagement, particularly with Brazil. A recent meeting between the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva during the summit underscored a mutual desire to expand cooperation in food security, renewable energy, and technology. These ties offer both countries the opportunity to co-develop green infrastructure projects and deepen investment in sectors such as sustainable agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and aerospace.

Such bilateralism within multilateral frameworks strengthens the UAE’s regional anchoring and allows it to act as a middle power that can broker cooperation across continents. It also aligns with Abu Dhabi’s ambition to enhance its strategic relevance in Latin America, a region traditionally overlooked in Gulf diplomacy.

BRICS as a strategic complement, not a replacement

For the UAE, BRICS is not an end in itself as it is a catalyst for deeper engagement, greater voice, and more resilient global integration. It offers a venue to complement its existing partnerships, rather than replace them. Its utility lies not in creating a rival bloc, but in offering a multipolar platform for innovation, cooperation, and reform.

The BRICS-led NDB (New Development Bank) is particularly attractive for countries seeking development finance outside the traditional IMF/World Bank framework. The NDB’s emphasis on infrastructure, green energy, and sustainable development aligns with UAE’s domestic economic diversification goals under “Vision 2031.” Moreover, the UAE is likely to advocate for expanded financial instruments within the NDB that prioritise climate-resilient and digitally enabled infrastructure projects across the Global South.

As BRICS matures, fostering cooperation in technology and digital governance, including payment systems and AI regulation, will be critical to the bloc’s relevance in an era of technological decoupling. The UAE, with its growing investments in fintech, blockchain, and artificial intelligence, is well-positioned to play a leading role in steering BRICS digital architecture toward inclusive and ethical frameworks.

Lastly, BRICS must create more robust mechanisms for South-South dialogue, especially in food security, migration, and sustainable development. These are areas where the UAE has already demonstrated leadership, and where cross-regional collaboration is not only desirable but essential to long-term resilience and equity.

As BRICS+ continues to expand and evolve, the UAE’s active and purposeful participation signals a broader Middle Eastern recalibration toward multipolar engagement, economic pragmatism, and normative assertiveness on the global stage.

Iran's approach to the Middle East