‘I Don’t See an Alternative to What’s Being Proposed’: UAE Envoy Speaks Out on Trump Gaza Proposal

Latest Developments

‘We’re All in the Solutions-Seeking Business’: The Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the United States stated on February 12 that currently, there is “no alternative” to President Trump’s plans to bring peace to the Middle East. Speaking at the World Government Summit in Dubai, Yousef al-Otaiba said that the United Arab Emirates would “try” to find common ground with the Trump administration. “I think the current approach is going to be difficult,” he said. “At the end of the day, we’re all in the solutions-seeking business. We just don’t know where it’s going to land yet.”
Alternative Proposal ‘Hasn’t Surfaced Yet’: In a wide-ranging discussion that pivoted from artificial intelligence to trade policy to the situation in the Middle East, al-Otaiba emphasized that the United Arab Emirates’ strategy is to “tell people who we are, what our priorities are, what our values are.” He added, “That is what we focus on — not really who’s in the White House.” Asked whether the United Arab Emirates was presently working on an alternative plan to Trump, al-Otaiba answered, “Not yet … I don’t see an alternative to what’s being proposed. I really don’t. And so if someone has one, we’re happy to discuss it, we’re happy to explore it, but it hasn’t surfaced yet.”
UAE Pushing Two-State Solution: In a statement issued on February 5, the United Arab Emirates Foreign Ministry “stressed its categorical rejection of any infringement on the Palestinians’ unalienable rights, and any attempts of displacement.” The statement also reaffirmed the Gulf state’s commitment to the creation of “an independent Palestinian state, reflecting the UAE’s belief that regional stability can only be attained through the two-state solution.” Along with Bahrain and Morocco, the United Arab Emirates is a signatory to the “Abraham Accords,” which established peace with Israel, having acceded in August 2020.

FDD Expert Response

“Ambassador al-Otaiba’s recognition that there is ‘no alternative’ to Trump’s proposal underscores a cautious but pragmatic willingness among some Arab leaders to engage with this administration, even if disagreements are inevitable later. However, achieving a sustainable peace in Gaza requires more than diplomatic acknowledgment; it demands a firm and united effort to craft a settlement that addresses Israel’s security imperatives. Crucially, such a solution can only succeed if all stakeholders unequivocally agree that Hamas must have no role in the future governance of Gaza.” — Mark Dubowitz, FDD CEO

“There’s clearly a regional understanding that President Trump has reset the terms of debate and broken out of a box of only bad outcomes — and no one has come forward with a better idea. We should expect opposition from two camps in the region: countries that favor the Muslim Brotherhood and countries that are afraid of them. Everyone else I’d expect to try to find common ground with the White House.” — Richard Goldberg, Senior Advisor

“The United Arab Emirates knows that there is no salvation for Gaza with Hamas staying in power. The United Arab Emirates also has a problem with the Palestinian Authority and its corruption. Thus, in the absence of reliable Palestinian leadership, the only game in town is President Trump’s plan for Gaza, regardless of its merits or lack thereof. This seems to be what Ambassador al-Otaiba was implicitly saying.” — Hussain Abdul-Hussain, Research Fellow