At the Majalis Abu Dhabi seminar, Dr. Mohammed Al-Ali affirms the UAE’s approach toward confronting terrorism and disinformation.

Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS Research & Advisory, has stressed the importance of exposing and debunking systematic disinformation campaigns led by extremist groups — foremost among them the Houthis militia and the Muslim Brotherhood — and highlighting their direct threats to Yemen and Gulf security. He also showcased the United Arab Emirates model, which is grounded in apathy and magnanimity, in confronting terrorism and supporting peace and stability.

During the seminar — January 17… Emirati Chivalry in Confronting Systematic Disinformation — held under the aegis of the Majalis Abu Dhabi — he said that this approach constitutes an essential platform for identifying the sources of threat facing Yemen and the region. It uncovers the terrorist and destructive roles of extremist groups and highlights the UAE’s role in supporting security, stability, and peace.

A Shared Threat

Dr. Al-Ali affirmed that the Houthi militia and the Muslim Brotherhood represent a shared and compounded threat to Yemen and the security of the Gulf states, as they are two faces of a single project aimed at undermining the nation-state, weakening its institutions, and spreading chaos and instability. He explained that the Houthis’ militia practices direct armed terrorism by targeting civilian facilities and international maritime routes in the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean, threatening global trade and regional and international economic security.

On the other hand, the Muslim Brotherhood relies on organizational and political terrorism by infiltrating state institutions, fueling divisions, and supporting armed groups that prolong the conflict and deepen the humanitarian crisis in Yemen. He noted that the continued influence of these groups could turn Yemen into a regional and international threat hub, given their pursuit of manufacturing drones and transferring ballistic missile technology to other terrorist organizations.

Standing with the Yemeni People

Dr. Al-Ali emphasized that the UAE’s stance in support of the legitimate government and its backing of the Yemeni people embody sustained Emirati values of chivalry and magnanimity, as well as the deeply rooted values of solidarity and mutual support within Emirati society. These positions reflect the state’s firm commitment to confronting terrorist projects that have exacerbated the suffering of Yemenis.

He explained that the UAE has provided humanitarian and development assistance to Yemen, exceeding AED 23 billion between 2015 and 2021, benefiting more than 16.3 million Yemenis in food security and around 11.4 million people in the health sector, in partnership with the United Nations. This is in addition to USD 1.2 billion in direct support to Yemen, USD 325 million for the health and infrastructure sectors, and support for UN programs totaling USD 1.2 billion.

Solidarity in Confronting the Propaganda Machine

Dr. Mohammed Al-Ali stressed that the Houthi militia and the Muslim Brotherhood rely on a systematic propaganda machine to distort the UAE’s sacrifices and its humanitarian, developmental, and peace-supporting role in Yemen and the region, attempting to invert facts and justify terrorist practices. He underscored the importance of national, regional, and international solidarity to confront these disinformation campaigns by exposing facts and enhancing societal awareness of the dangers of extremist discourse that uses media as a weapon, parallel to armed violence.

He pointed out that repeated Houthi attacks on civilian facilities in Gulf states constitute a blatant violation of international law and a direct threat to regional security and stability, necessitating a unified and firm international stance to hold perpetrators and their supporters accountable.

Lessons for the Future

Dr. Mohammed Al-Ali explained that the terrorist events of January 17 revealed the true nature of extremist groups — foremost among them the Houthis militia and those who support it ideologically and organizationally, including the Muslim Brotherhood. He affirmed that these events impose the need to enhance security, intellectual, and media preparedness, and to intensify regional and international cooperation to confront terrorism in all its forms, as this constitutes the primary gateway to achieving stability and prosperity in Yemen and the region.