Reconsidering the Arms Race in the Persian Gulf: The Main Reasons Behind Armament Among Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Qatar

Abstract

Conventional wisdom and Gulf local media's coverage of armament in the Gulf creates the perception that Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar's arms and defense investments and strife stem from an arms race. Nevertheless, contrary to this perception created by the media, the armament of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar is not due to an arms race. This thesis aims to show why and how there is no arms race between the Persian Gulf monarchies of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. Gulf monarchies have recently invested in indigenous defense industries and have signed multibillion-dollar and multi-year arm agreements, often with Western countries. This thesis, analyzing the main reasons for the armament behavior of the Persian Gulf monarchies, aims to show that these monarchies are not in an arms race. The main reasons for the armament of these countries are honor and prestige stemming from a tribal past, a policy of diversifying their post-oil economies, and a policy of appeasement of the West. In this context, the thesis compared the coverage of the Gulf printed media on armament, military building, and alliance preferences, causing the perception of an arms race in the Gulf, with the reports of the international media on the same topics to demonstrate how Gulf monarchies legitimize their armament. The thesis tested the elements it extracted from the analysis of the military buildup and armament behavior in the Gulf. The findings reveal that the cause of tension and armament between Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar does not match the arms race phenomenon. The findings confirm the assertion that Gulf monarchies are armed for prestige, a policy of diversifying their post-oil economies, and seeking to appease the West.