[COPY] China and the UAE: A Reading List

Key Takeaways

• Crown Prince's Beijing visit marks deepening China-UAE ties
• Comprehensive reading list covers books, journals, think‑tank reports
• Strategic partnership upgraded to highest diplomatic level in 2018
• UAE balances US and China amid great‑power competition
• Chinese language influence growing in UAE universities, but interest low

Pulse Analysis

China’s relationship with the United Arab Emirates has evolved from modest diplomatic contact in the 1970s to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2018, positioning the Gulf state as a pivotal node in Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative. The partnership now spans massive infrastructure projects, energy cooperation, and joint ventures in technology and finance, while the UAE leverages Chinese capital to diversify its economy beyond oil. This deepening ties reflect a broader shift in Middle Eastern geopolitics, where regional actors seek alternatives to traditional Western reliance.

The newly released reading list aggregates the most salient academic and policy research on this bilateral dynamic. It includes Yuting Wang’s ethnographic study of Chinese expatriates in Dubai, Jonathan Fulton’s historical analysis of Gulf‑China relations, and multiple journal articles that dissect the strategic, economic, and cultural dimensions of the partnership. By consolidating these sources, the list fills a scholarly gap, offering analysts a one‑stop reference to assess how China’s soft power—through language programs and cultural institutes—intersects with hard‑power investments in the Gulf.

For businesses and governments, the implications are clear: the UAE’s nuanced balancing act between the United States and China creates both opportunities and risks. While Chinese financing fuels growth in sectors like renewable energy and digital infrastructure, the UAE must also navigate heightened US scrutiny amid escalating Sino‑American rivalry. Stakeholders who grasp the academic insights and policy forecasts outlined in the reading list will be better positioned to anticipate regulatory shifts, investment flows, and strategic realignments in a region that is rapidly becoming a crucible of great‑power competition.