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If you are interested in business in the Middle East, you may have heard of Sheikh Tahnoon as the chairman of International Holding Co.In this position, he leads UAEIt is the second-highest listed company by market capitalization, with business ranging from healthcare and real estate to IT and utilities, with a market value of more than $72 billion.
But the key to understanding Sheikh Tanun’s position in Middle East affairs lies in his descent: his brother is the de facto leader of the UAE. Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed,Well-known MBZ, The crown prince of Abu Dhabi, the most powerful of the seven emirates of the Federation. Their age may differ by 10 years, but the two have worked together as they lead the country through a period of economic, security, and foreign policy uncertainty.
The United States, which has always been the protector and main trading partner of the UAE and other Gulf monarchies, is now leaving the region; their historical rival Iran is expanding its influence. Economic competition in the Arabian Peninsula is becoming increasingly fierce, as countries pursue similar diversification goals and prepare for the future that hydrocarbons alone will not be able to sustain their populations. Under the leadership of MBZ, the UAE has achieved political and economic influence beyond its own in its neighboring countries, earning the nickname “Little Spartan” in the US national security circle. But the crown prince needs help to maintain this state.
For this, he turned to Sheikh Tahnoon (Sheikh Tahnoon). MBZ has four other brothers, two sisters, and several half-brothers, but he entrusted the management of the country’s most sensitive foreign policy documents and extensive business portfolio to Sheikh Tanun, including IHC , Royal Group, investment company Abu Dhabi Development Holding Company and the largest bank in the UAE, First Abu Dhabi Bank.
As a national security adviser, Sheikh Tahnoon is also involved in deeper aspects of the country’s governance strategy. US prosecutors stated that he and MBZ were involved in a covert operation to influence the incoming Trump administration in 2016, using billionaire Tom Barrack as an intermediary. Barak was sued for serving as an unregistered foreign agent in the UAE. He has pleaded not guilty. In this case, no UAE official was accused of any wrongdoing.
Just five years ago, the emergence of 51-year-old Sheikh Tahnoon from relative obscurity sparked speculation about his place in the prince’s pecking order: he might become the next crown prince. Man, not one of MBZ’s sons? In the UAE, any discussion about succession must be conducted verbally, but almost everyone I met during my recent trips to Dubai and Abu Dhabi agreed that MBZ is training Sheikh Tanun to do bigger things. A senior UAE official said: “He is given oversight of all important aspects of the country, so you have to think that this is a springboard for something.”
This is also the consensus of my next stop in Doha, where high-level officials commented on the close relationship between the two brothers. This gives Sheikh Tanun’s proposal to the Qatari unquestionable credibility. A senior official told me that MBZ sent him to meet Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad in August and “sent a signal that the UAE is serious about improving relations with us”. “If he sends someone else, even one of his other brothers, this posture will not be that heavy.”
At the same time, sending Sheikh Tanun to Doha saved the UAE leader from the embarrassment of publicly retreating. MBZ has been the main promoter of the three-year embargo imposed on Qatar by the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt. At the end of last year, when Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman unilaterally decided to end the rift, MBZ had no choice but to follow suit. This is embarrassing enough, and there is no extra humiliation in the pleasant photo with the Emir of Qatar and the Saudi Crown Prince. Sheikh Tahnoon replaced his brother, grinning bravely at the camera.
After taking a tough stance against Turkey and Iran, MBZ counted on his brother to do more than just make him blush. In the rapidly changing security situation, Iran’s adventurism, Turkey’s self-confidence, and Biden’s government’s determination to reduce US involvement have become more dangerous. Sheikh Tahnoon’s diplomatic mission is critical to ensuring the UAE’s long-term strategic position. His business interests may also help: several companies in his portfolio have invested billions of dollars in Turkey, which will undoubtedly put him in the position of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Tayyip Erdogan) enjoys a good reputation.
Although the picture of the three princes shows amiability, the UAE and Qatar are still vigilant to each other, and the relationship between the UAE and Saudi Arabia is being tested by growing economic competition. The company led by Sheikh Tahnoon will undoubtedly become the vanguard of this competition, given its scale and wide range of interests.
In the coming months and years, Sheikh Tahnoon will have more photos-not all photos are so pleasant.
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