Since its emergence, Daesh (the self-proclaimed Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) has become the most feared terrorist organisation in the world. Unlike Al Qaida, Daesh has managed to control and expand the territory it conquers — though it has recently suffered significant territorial loses in Iraq and Syria to both, government and rival extremist groups. At the same time, Daesh has been quite adept at using social media to recruit and attract young supporters and sympathisers from different parts of the world. Recently, Deash has diversified its military strategy by also launching attacks in the West, such as the attacks on France and Belgium in November 2015 and March 2016, respectively. Of growing concern has been that Daesh fighters who operated and gained combat experience in Iraq and Syria may spill over into their countries in Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia, including the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, and stage their violence in the region.
In the aftermath of the Paris attacks, Anwar Gargash, the UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, stated: “What we clearly see is that nobody is immune. The attacks can happen anywhere. It can happen if you open your border, it can happen if you shut your border, it can happen if you are an open society, it can happen if you are a closed society, [and if] it can happen in Paris, it can happen in any other city.” He ended his remarks by pointing out that “we, in the UAE, also are not immune”.
Fortunately, the UAE has so far not been directly targeted by Daesh, and given proper security precautions, the possibility of this happening is fairly remote. To outside observers, however, the UAE would provide for a susceptible environment with its mega malls and famous high-rise buildings. Dubai, a central hub of international finance, is eager to uphold its reputation of being a safe haven for political stability in the region. At the same time, the UAE has been host to a diverse expat population and is very tolerant of people’s beliefs and practices, what Daesh would view as unacceptable to its distorted ideological mindset. The UAE has also irked the ire of Daesh by being at the forefront of bombing campaigns (along with the United States-led coalition forces) against Deash in its strongholds in Iraq and Syria in 2014 while also publicly declaring Daesh a terrorist organisation when it officially published a list of 83 terrorist groups in November 2014.
According to several security experts, the UAE has not been sitting idle, hoping for the best. It has taken a pre-emptive approach towards fighting terrorism. As one analyst from the Baker Institute, a US thinktank, highlighted: “The UAE has very strong intelligence and security services and has long been on the lookout for potential signs of radicalisation in various parts of the federation.” A similar sentiment was seconded by Christian Koch from the Gulf Research Center in Geneva who believes that the UAE “has made tremendous investments in top-notch technology and has also undergone extensive training for its personnel” while pointing to the fact that “... the Middle East needed to show leadership in fighting against Daesh ... [and that] the UAE has shown some of the leadership that is required”. Yet, one uncertainty does remain, as the previous analyst from the Baker Institute points out that the “UAE could be vulnerable to more ‘lone-wolf’ or ‘copycat’ attacks by individuals who sympathise with Daesh aspirations and objectives, similar to the murder of an American woman in Abu Dhabi last December”. These types of attacks are harder to detect and defend against, but they are rare and seldom lethal.
A multifaceted approach towards dealing with the Deash threat is quintessential and the UAE has embarked on this path. The UAE, in coordination with the US, has launched the Sawab Centre, a digital platform (communication centre) located in the UAE’s capital. Its mission is to raise awareness among social media users and counter the spread of Daesh’s propaganda messages online. By monitoring online activities related to Daesh and releasing video’s and twitter messages in English and Arabic, the UAE, via the Sawab Centre, has been able to promote an alternative vision and voice to that of Daesh. In addition, the UAE has enacted strict laws meant to serve as a deterrent. The Federal Supreme Court has sentenced four Emiratis to death and several others in absentia, for travelling to Syria to fight for Daesh. The accused were tried in the highest Court of the country, which signals the severity of the crimes and makes an example out of those who are proven guilty. Trials such as those are quite rare in the UAE, but they show that even young people are accountable for their actions and that those convicted of terrorist offences face capital punishment, life imprisonment and fines of up to Dh100 million.
Lastly, the UAE, with the support of Lieutenant General Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior and Vice-Chairman of the Emirates Identity Authority, has been at the forefront of promoting ‘positive patriotism’. The goal is to instil a strong sense of nationalism and loyalty to the nation by practising commitment to citizenship obligations.
A manifestation of positive patriotism will be the mandatory military conscription for all men aged between 18 and 30 as well as the establishment of Martyrs’ Day to be observed on November 30 of each year to commemorate the sacrifices that UAE citizens have made in defence of the nation at home and abroad.
Kristian P. Alexander is assistant professor in the College of Sustainability Sciences and Humanities, Zayed University, Abu Dhabi.
