Analysis of the neighborhood policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran towards the United Arab Emirates based on the SWOT analytical model

vafaie, iraj; keshishian siraki, gharine; ghaedi, mohammadreza

Volume 15, Issue 1 (Political researches of the Islamic world, Spring 2025) پژوهشهاي سياسي جهان اسلام 2025, 15(1): 0-0 | Back to browse issues page

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vafaie I, keshishian siraki G, ghaedi M. Analysis of the neighborhood policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran towards the United Arab Emirates based on the SWOT analytical model. پژوهشهاي سياسي جهان اسلام 2025; 15 (1)
URL: http://priw.ir/article-1-1974-en.html

Analysis of the neighborhood policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran towards the United Arab Emirates based on the SWOT analytical model

Iraj Vafaie¹

, Gharine Keshishian siraki ^*²

, Mohammadreza Ghaedi³

1- Department of Political Science and International Relations, Kish International Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kish Island, Iran
2- Department of Political Science and International Relations, South Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran , g.keshishyan71@gmail.com
3- Department of Political Science and International Relations, shiraz Branch, Islamic Azad University, shiraz, Iran

Abstract: (148 Views)

The Islamic Republic of Iran has always viewed the policy of strengthening relations with neighboring countries as one of the fundamental pillars of its diplomatic approach. In the meantime, the United Arab Emirates has always had a special place in the country's neighborhood policy due to its strategic location, significant economic capacities, and extensive ties with international powers. This research, using library tools, field notes, and questionnaires to collect data, and descriptive-analytical methods and SWOT analysis methods to analyze data, as well as utilizing the propositions of the neighborhood policy theory, sought to examine and analyze the neighborhood policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran toward the United Arab Emirates. The results indicate that Iran's relations with the Emirates have been formed in a complex, sensitive, and contradictory context. In a way that existing threats and shortcomings have more weight and impact than potential opportunities and capabilities. This relative dominance of threats over opportunities indicates that achieving Iran's goals in its neighborhood policy is not possible by relying solely on existing capacities, but rather requires adopting an active, multi-level, and precise strategy in confronting external challenges and correcting internal inefficiencies. This necessity is even more important in the case of the UAE, which simultaneously plays an important role in the regional economy and also has a strong presence in the geopolitical competition of the Persian Gulf. In such circumstances, formulating a considered policy towards the UAE will require establishing a strategic balance between taking advantage of shared opportunities and realistic management of existing threats and limitations.

Keywords: Islamic Republic of Iran, United Arab Emirates, neighborhood policy, strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats, SWOT analysis method