Over the past decade, the role of the United Arab Emirates has shifted from that of an economic actor to an assertive security and political player relying on the dismantling of states from within. This approach is based on empowering militias, controlling resources, and sustaining conflicts. What emerges across multiple theaters is a recurring pattern: weakening the state, arming non-state actors, extracting wealth, and institutionalizing permanent instability.
Chapter One | Sudan: Gold as Fuel for War
Hamidti, Al-Junaid Company, and Smuggling Routes
In Sudan, the war that erupted in April 2023 cannot be separated from Emirati support, direct and indirect, for the Rapid Support Forces led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hamidti. The economic backbone of this militia has been the Al-Junaid gold company, linked to the Dagalo family.
United Nations expert reports documented the delivery of weapons and equipment to the Rapid Support Forces through Chad and Libya using logistical and aviation networks connected to the UAE. Investigative organizations revealed that more than ninety percent of Sudanese gold is smuggled outside official channels, with the UAE as its primary destination. International media investigations also exposed the existence of an Emirati-funded field hospital in Chad providing logistical support to Hamidti’s forces.
The consequences have been devastating: over fifteen thousand civilian deaths, nearly ten million displaced and refugees, and economic losses estimated at more than forty billion dollars. The war became an investment, with gold exchanged for blood.
Chapter Two | Libya: Militarizing Politics and Sabotaging Statehood
Haftar, Al-Khadim Air Base, and Armed Drones
In Libya, the UAE replicated the same model through its military and political backing of Khalifa Haftar. United Nations Security Council reports between 2017 and 2020 recorded more than twenty violations of the arms embargo, including the deployment of Chinese-made Wing Loong drones launched from Emirati-supported bases, notably Al-Khadim air base in eastern Libya.
Human rights organizations documented airstrikes that caused civilian casualties during Haftar’s assault on Tripoli in 2019 and 2020. The toll exceeded four thousand civilian deaths, national elections were postponed twice, and the oil sector suffered losses worth billions. Democracy was sacrificed in favor of militarized control and strategic influence.
Chapter Three | Yemen: Dismantling the State and Controlling Sea Lanes
The Southern Transitional Council, Secret Prisons, and Socotra
In Yemen, the UAE entered the war as part of the coalition but quickly pursued a separate agenda. It supported the Southern Transitional Council led by Aidarous Al-Zubaidi, built parallel militias, and undermined the internationally recognized government.
Human rights organizations documented secret detention facilities, torture, and enforced disappearances run by forces backed by the UAE. UN reports confirmed support for separatist factions and the seizure of strategic ports and islands, including Aden, Mokha, and Socotra.
The human cost has exceeded three hundred seventy-seven thousand deaths, directly and indirectly, while eighty percent of the population depends on humanitarian aid. The Yemeni state was fragmented to secure maritime dominance.
Chapter Four | The African Sahel: Colonialism Disguised as Investment
Gold, Coups, and Front Companies
In Mali, Niger, Chad, and the Central African Republic, Emirati-linked companies have been associated with gold purchases from conflict zones, while financial and security arrangements indirectly supported military takeovers. Under the banner of investment, sovereignty eroded, violence escalated by approximately forty percent in some areas between 2022 and 2024, and billions in natural wealth were siphoned out annually.
Chapter Five | A Unified Emirati Model
Hamidti, Haftar, and Al-Zubaidi as Local Instruments
Across all theaters, the same doctrine prevails: militias over states, fragmented armies over national institutions, suspended democratic processes, and the conversion of natural wealth into fuel for conflict. The names change, but the method and outcome remain constant.
Conclusion | When Money Becomes a Weapon
What is unfolding is not crisis management but the deliberate engineering of chaos. Loyalty is purchased, divisions are armed, and peace is traded for profit. History shows that power built on destruction is ultimately unsustainable, and the true cost of this strategy is borne by shattered states and devastated societies.