President Samia Suluhu Hassan with Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. FILE PHOTO | STATE HOUSE
The Middle East, strategically positioned at the crossroads of Africa, Europe, and Asia, has been a major player in shaping world history for millennia. Today, however, the Middle East is shaped more by events in Dubai than those in Cairo, Baghdad, or Damascus. That transformation is propelled by the small but overambitious nation – the United Arab Emirates.
Six decades ago, the UAE was a cluster of villages, often noted for their backwardness. Yet, the discovery of oil in the late 1950s, coupled with visionary leadership and savvy investments, triggered a remarkable metamorphosis. Presently, the UAE stands among the world's elite, attracting hordes of tourists and businesses eager to set up shop on its shores.
