The UAE’s niche diplomacy in the Middle East: authoritarian strategies of a middle power

This study analyzes how the United Arab Emirates (UAE) leverages niche diplomacy as an authoritarian middle power to expand its global influence, construct normative legitimacy, and navigate structural constraints in the international system. Focusing on high-visibility sectors, humanitarian aid, renewable energy, health, culture, and sports, the UAE converts sectoral specialization into symbolic capital, enhancing its diplomatic reach while deflecting scrutiny of its domestic governance. Rather than treating niche diplomacy as technocratic or apolitical, the study frames it as a strategic instrument of identity formation and regime legitimation. The UAE case challenges conventional international relations (IR) assumptions that associate normative influence with liberal democracies, illustrating how authoritarian states can retool soft power mechanisms for strategic gain. By addressing gaps in the literature on Middle Eastern middle powers and authoritarian diplomacy, the study contributes to a more nuanced understanding of how non-democratic regimes shape global agendas through functional, performative, and reputational strategies.