Investigating the most important causes of political stability and the absence of pro-democracy protests in the UAE

The present study tries to investigate and analyze the most important reasons for political stability and the absence of pro-democracy shocks in the UAE using a descriptive-analytical method and using quantitative and qualitative data. The theories of rentier government and rent-oil economy, late rentierism and neopatrimonialism and their combination form the theoretical framework of the present study. The research findings show that the UAE has adopted two simultaneous and complementary strategies in economics and politics to prevent protest movements and disrupt political stability. In the economy, the UAE is looking for a strategy to diversify the economy and distance itself from the rentier and mono-product economy, thus reducing vulnerability in the economy. In politics, too, the UAE government seeks a model of accountable but undemocratic government. A government that responds very well to economic and welfare demands but is highly undemocratic in politics and only makes superficial and tactical reforms. For these reasons, the UAE has maintained its political stability and has not experienced strong political shocks. But for reasons such as intergenerational developments and the emergence of a new middle class outside the ruling sheikhs's support network, demographic composition and activation of immigrants, the end of oil revenues, increasing political awareness and declining traditional-tribal legitimacy, the UAE can no longer function as it does today. The waves of democracy are immune to or highly resistant to.