A complex political reality of the Middle East makes the national security of UAE a daunting task, but it has met the challenge rather well

Anation's national security may be threatened by a variety of internal, external, or overlapping causes. These difficulties may often be grouped according to several factors. In general, conventional threats take the form of armed conflicts, but unconventional threats manifest as cyberwars, also known as digital warfare. Instability on a regional and global scale poses significant threats to the UAE's national security. The conflicting interests of local, regional, and international parties have contributed to the escalation and complexity of several wars. The following are the biggest threats to UAE national security at the moment:

Regional Conflicts

A nation's national security may be threatened by a variety of internal, external, or overlapping causes. These difficulties may often be grouped according to several factors. In general, conventional threats take the form of armed conflicts, but unconventional threats manifest as cyberwars, also known as digital warfare. Instability on a regional and global scale poses significant threats to the UAE's national security. The conflicting interests of local, regional, and international parties have contributed to the escalation and complexity of several wars. The following are the biggest threats to UAE national security at the moment:

Foreign Interventions

The national security of Arab nations, especially the UAE, has been negatively affected by regional interventions in domestic issues, which can sometimes be dangerous.

 However, historically, these interventions were regulated by rules and had distinct bounds and deterrent measures. The circumstance, though, has altered. Regional powers have seized control of certain Arab nations. In actuality, these elements currently play a sizable role in the stoking of certain local disputes. For more than five years, there hasn't been a political solution in Yemen, where Iranian meddling and its continued support of the Houthi rebels have exacerbated the issue and contributed to its continuation.

The same is true of Turkey's involvement, namely in Libya, where it intensified and made the nation's situation worse since 2011. There are valid concerns that the conflict's expansion might ignite a regional conflict because the interests of the two parties overlap. Other countries have made it plain that Russian intervention poses a threat to the stability and security of the Mediterranean and the entire region. This poses a severe threat to the nation's security.

Extremism and Terrorism

One of the biggest threats to regional, national, and even international security and stability in the UAE continues to be extremism and terrorism. Although there have been concerns about the resurrection of Da'esh or other groups, or even the development of additional radical and violent organisations, this phenomenon has been largely in decline since the terrorist group Da'esh was defeated in Iraq and Syria.

Political considerations, such as the repression of liberties and likely despotism; economic ones, such as poverty and unemployment, especially in light of the coronavirus epidemic, which is predicted to have a significant impact on economic circumstances; or intellectual factors, such as the persistence of extremist ideas and their distribution through social media, which has evolved into a platform for the propagation of hatred & extreme ideology.

Electronic Attacks

Cyber warfare, often known as threats to computer networks, is a major source of worry. Attacks on the internet are among the most serious problems that every nation's national security has to deal with. The difficulty in foreseeing, regulating, or avoiding them is merely one aspect of the issue; another is the catastrophic consequences they have on national economies. Cyberattacks have the potential to shut down entire services and disrupt entire industries. Additionally, they have the potential to seriously escalate international tensions and even spark a war. This is especially true if incorrect information was released to imply that a nation was in immediate danger, setting off a strong reaction that would lead to warfare.The situation is made worse by the internet and rapid technological advancement. The threat is constant despite the development of cybersecurity measures and the existence of strong legislative frameworks. The threat is increased when nations establish digital or cyber warfare units as part of their offensive tactics since methods of infiltration and assault are constantly changing. As a result, countries rather than people or businesses become the source of the threat. This might result in official services from countries attacking critical sites of other nations, perhaps going beyond the bounds of espionage or information collection, to destroy crucial material at crucial institutions.

Demographics

Undoubtedly, the population structure is greatly unbalanced as a result of the development seen in the UAE. It poses a serious threat to national security since this imbalance hurts deploying the government resources required to sustain the growth of the UAE, as well as on the issue of employment and the potential for labour unrest. Rival nations and foreign powers may take advantage of the current context of escalating human rights demands.

(The writer is an advisor to Cyber/Aerospace Security and an eminent expert for Counter Terrorism & Cyber Security, in West Asia & Middle East. The views expressed are personal) Concluded