UAE President: Youth play pivotal role in prosperity of societies
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Middle East Eye
4 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
Who is Samir Hulileh and why is he tipped as the man to govern post-war Gaza?
For consumers of Arab news media, Samir Hulileh's name has been making headlines since Monday. The soft-spoken Palestinian economist, businessman and former political aide to the Palestinian Authority (PA) has given interviews to the Palestinian news agency Ma'an, the Saudi broadcaster Al-Arabiya, and Emirati paper, The National - among others - to float his candidacy as the next "governor" of Gaza. Hulileh was transparent about being handpicked by the Biden administration in July 2024. But that was a relatively different time for the now-ravaged enclave that has, by all accounts, become the legal definition of genocide. July 2024 was also when the White House proposed the ceasefire agreement that was eventually adopted by Israel under US President Donald Trump in January 2025, so plans for the "day after" were well underway. It remains unclear if Hulileh is still a potential candidate for the current Trump administration. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters On Tuesday, in a 20-minute televised discussion with Al-Arabiya, he appeared to tone down his rhetoric, saying, "I am a businessman. I am not the next day, or the day after [plan]". As "luck" would have it, he added, he was "chosen" for a role that he would only agree to if the PA - the only internationally recognised Palestinian political entity - agrees to it. "Samir is very careful in his interview. He was very conciliatory to [PA President Mahmoud] Abbas and to the Authority, because, frankly, he is not a politician, as he admits all the time. He doesn't have a constituency," Khalil Jahshan, the executive director of Arab Center in Washington DC told Middle East Eye. But by Tuesday evening in Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, the PA issued a statement calling Hulileh's moves "disgraceful", and that they "circumvent" the PA's "official position rejecting the separation of the Gaza Strip from the West Bank as part of an Israeli scheme". "The Presidency condemns Hulileh's statements and calls on him to stop spreading lies and attempting to cover up his shameful stance, which brings him under liability," the statement read, as circulated by the Wafa news agency. Hulileh, currently the CEO of Palestine Development and Investment Ltd, told Ma'an Radio Network that he has already engaged in talks with the Arab parties working on the Gaza file, namely Egypt and Saudi Arabia, and that Hamas has publicly said it is willing to step down to allow for a government of technocrats to assume interim control of the Strip. But any talk of the "day after" can only follow a permanent ceasefire and a full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza - a notion that seems more and more remote as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu now vows to occupy Gaza City and keep the war going. For its part, the Trump administration appears to have pivoted to other foreign policy priorities, but Hulileh told Ma'an he believes that backdoor US pressure will lead to a "comprehensive deal" in "coming weeks". Not the only horse in the race Hulileh was born in Kuwait in 1957 and went to university in Lebanon in the early 1980s before joining the Palestine Banking Corporation and later leading the Palestine International Business Forum, the Palestine Trade Organisation, and the Palestine Stock Exchange. From 1994 onwards, he took on various government roles with the PA, eventually becoming chief of staff to Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei, who was most recently in office from December 2005 until March 2006, when he was succeeded by Ismail Haniyeh after the Gaza election that Hamas won. US plans to eliminate security office coordinating with Palestinian Authority Read More » Hulileh, Jahshan said, is ultimately "part of the financial elite in the West Bank", making him potentially "too close for comfort to the PA", which may not sit well with Palestinians in Gaza. Many in the enclave feel the PA is an ineffective and corrupt mechanism that Israel uses to collaborate with to exert control over Palestinian territories. The PA is funded and trained by Washington, with assistance from Egypt and Jordan. Nizar Farzakh, who was a former adviser to Palestinian leadership, told MEE that Hulileh's media rounds are "test balloons" to get "a better sense of what could be the objections and reservations, so that when actually they want to sit down, they already have ideas [and can] iron out a few rough edges". But Hulileh is not the only candidate to lead a post-war Gaza. Farzakh suggested that controversial political strategist Mohammed Dahlan could re-emerge for the post. In 2006, Dahlan was elected as Palestinian Legislative Council representative for Khan Younis, the city in Gaza where he was born and raised. He was elected to the Fatah party's central committee in 2009. But in 2011, he was dispelled from Fatah after a bitter row with Abbas and the party. He has lived in exile in the United Arab Emirates ever since. "The Israelis love him. The Emiratis love him. He has good relations with the Egyptians. He has good relations with the Jordanians, somewhat. And he has half of Fatah," Farzakh said. Fatah is the political party that currently forms the PA. "He has good relations with Hamas, by the way. He fixed his relations with Hamas after he got kicked out of the West Bank," Farzakh added. And governorship of Gaza is a highly coveted role, regardless of the time frame, he explained, given the reconstruction funds that are expected to flow into the enclave. "It's a lot of money. Trump is going to spend money." 'Obscene' With more than 61,000 Palestinians dead in Gaza, more than 150,000 wounded, and a full-blown famine underway according to human rights groups, there are questions surrounding Hulileh's timing for an Arab media blitz. "I think it's obscene for any Palestinian to be talking about the day after," Jahshan said. 'There is no day after. There is no evidence of the day after. So for any Palestinian to be talking about that and helping with that, [he's] got to be naive' - Khalil Jahshan, Arab Center But Hulileh himself told Al-Arabiya that the broker between himself and the Americans is a prominent Israeli Canadian called Ari Ben-Menashe, who appears to be the current strategist for Hulileh's candidacy. In October 2023, in a piece published just days before the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel, Canada's right-wing paper, The National Post, profiled Ben-Menashe, calling him a "warlord" and "the lobbyist of last resort". " As the head of a Montreal-based political consultancy, his specialty doesn't attract blue-chip politicians in the West so much as red-hot leaders in global hot spots," the article said. "On behalf of fringe, often maligned leaders, he lobbies world powers for support and funding; navigates international diplomacy, security; and brokers trade deals. He's a middleman, spin master, fixer". Ben-Menashe spent a year in prison after violating the US Arms Export Control Act by selling aircraft to Iran in the late 1980s. He also previously had a career in Israel's Military Intelligence Directorate. Even when pressed on the matter repeatedly, Hulileh maintained in his remarks on Al-Arabiya that he was chosen by the Americans, and not the Israelis. "With the level of destruction that has taken place and the total control militarily by Israel of most of Gaza at this point, and the extent of the damage done, I just can't see anything being done in the context of the day after... without US and Israel approving it. It's just impossible," Jahshan told MEE. "It's too late. I think the Palestinians have lost their momentum there, and there is no Arab momentum at all."
Al Etihad
8 hours ago
- Al Etihad
UAE, Philippines strengthen bilateral trade, investment ties
13 Aug 2025 21:18 ABU DHABI (WAM) Dr. Thain bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade, held a meeting with the Philippines Business Council in the UAE to explore expanding private sector relations between the two nations. This meeting follows the agreement of a bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) last July, aimed at enhancing trade cooperation and investment meeting touched on ways to build and expand partnerships between the business communities and the private sector on both sides. During the meeting, Al Zeyoudi highlighted the growing economic partnership between the UAE and the Philippines, noting that the total volume of non-oil trade reached approximately $940 million in has continued in 2025, with non-oil trade reaching $257.7 million in UAE is the Philippines' top export market among Arab and African countries as well as its 17th largest globally, demonstrating the strong foundation on which both nations can further expand collaboration."The Philippines is a key trading partner for the UAE in the growing ASEAN region, and we are committed to fostering stronger ties at all levels," HE Dr. Al Zeyoudi stated. ' Our discussions today aim to explore private sector opportunities, identify areas for greater collaboration, and address any challenges faced by Philippines businesses operating in the UAE or by their Emirati counterparts operating in the Philippine market."The Philippines is one of the fastest-growing economies in the ASEAN bloc of countries and a key logistics and manufacturing 2024, the economy grew by 5.6%, the second-fastest growing economy in the ASEAN region, which the world's fourth-largest economic bloc, boasting a combined GDP of $4.13 a significant Filipino diaspora residing in the UAE, working primarily in sectors such as construction, healthcare, and hospitality, the meeting also aimed to explore how these communities can further contribute to mutual prosperity from the growing economic Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, which was agreed earlier this year, is expected to mitigate trade barriers, boost investment flows, and open new avenues for trade, investment and collaboration in key sectors including agriculture, financial services, and electrical UAE-Philippines CEPA represents a significant addition to the UAE's global trade programme. The CEPA is forecast to increase the UAE's GDP by $2.4bn and increase exports to the Philippines to $7.62 billion by 2032.
Gulf Today
18 hours ago
- Gulf Today
UAE leaders praise key role of youth in nation's growth
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, said via the X platform: 'On International Youth Day, we express our appreciation for the pivotal role of youth in the advancement and prosperity of societies. We celebrate the achievements, ambitions, and active presence of Emirati youth in all areas of national work, and we affirm our continued empowerment and preparation for them to lead the development process and build a better future for our nation.' His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, stated via the X platform that the youth of the nation are the fuel, spirit and driving force of its progress. 'On International Youth Day, we celebrate our young nation, our loyal youth in all fields, and the youthful spirit that drives our vision and ambitions towards internationalism,' he said. 'We say to all our young people across the country, you are the fuel, spirit and driving force of our progress, and with you and for you, we are building the best living environment for the youth around the world,' he added. His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah stated, 'We now protect the youth with correct knowledge and attractive jobs, and provide them with homes they can be proud of. However, the world is open, and the soul is prone to temptation. We tell the youth that the mosque is there, the university is there, and the school is there. We hope that falsehood does not come to them from within themselves.' Sheikha Latifa Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), highlighted the capability of young people to change the world for the better in various ways. In a statement to mark International Youth Day 2025, Sheikha Latifa said it was vital that the youth were accorded the necessary encouragement to make a tangible impact in their respective communities and the world at large. She emphasised that there is something inherently unique about the way young people move through the world, stirring a curiosity about what might be achieved, reminding one and all of their own first encounters with possibility. The youth, Sheikha Latifa, said, may not always announce their impact, yet it happens in quiet but powerful ways, by challenging a habit, reimagining a process, or offering an idea no one thought to consider. Through their creativity, effortless ease as communicators, and spirit of collaboration, the youth are redefining progress, making it more inclusive, inventive, and responsive to the challenges the world faces, she said. The theme of this year's International Youth Day, 'Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond,' reflects what is already unfolding in the UAE and beyond, Sheikha Latifa said. 'Young people engage with this world in a distinctive way. I am captivated by the passion I see in their eyes, and by the curiosity and love of exploration that characterises them. The difference they make is reflected in their unique ideas, bold new visions, and their ability to challenge the norm,' she added. Sheikha Latifa added that, across the UAE, young people are transforming global challenges into local opportunities, weaving hope into policy and progress into the fabric of daily life. Whether it's a student-led climate solution, a neighbourhood coding programme, or a grassroots art initiative, these offer proof that innovation, when grounded in empathy, can transform entire systems from the ground up, she pointed out. She recalled how Sheikh Mohammed, who had placed unwavering belief in her own innate potential just as she saw the promise in the youth of the UAE, once said: 'Our value in life is defined by what we do.' Sheikha Latifa said she saw that same spirit reflected in the young people of the UAE, in their courage to act, their creativity to imagine, and their determination to build a better future, urging one and all to listen to them, invest in them, and walk alongside them, knowing that when the youth lead, the world will surely move forward.
