Dubai Ruler Calls Gulf Unity ‘the Most Beautiful Dream’ in New Book Excerpt

Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, released a message of unity to the peoples of the Arabian Gulf on Monday 19 October 2026 at 1:16 PM, accompanying it with a screengrab from a video he shared.

Message of Unity

He described the message as “the most beautiful dream” and said it forms part of a series of excerpts from his newest book titled “Letters”.

In the excerpt, he reflected on the Gulf’s transformation from humble desert beginnings to a landscape of modern skyscrapers and rapid development.

Quote: “We are the people of the Gulf. By the grace of Allah, we have all journeyed from humble towns to global metropolises, from modest fishing ports to international shipping routes, and from pearl diving to pursuing the world’s largest investments.”

Quote: “We are the people of the Gulf who, in just a few decades, have succeeded in building wealth, establishing institutions, connecting continents, hosting the world’s biggest events and supplying the energy that drives global economies.”

He added that the region’s biggest achievement is investing in people, deepening love for the homelands and promoting the values of coexistence and tolerance among all who have visited, worked and shared in the Gulf’s journey.

Foundations of Gulf Unity

He then outlined the logical ties that bind Gulf nations: history, geography, blood and ancestry, and shared ambitions and interests.

Quote: “If nations are built on history, then history binds us together. If they are united by geography, then the sea connects us and the desert embraces us. If nations are brought together by blood and ancestry, then we share far-reaching family ties and common roots. And if they are built on shared ambitions and interests, then our aspirations are lofty and our goals are one.”

Addressing Social Media Division

The Dubai Ruler warned against social media posts that aim to sow division among Gulf states.

Quote: “They will never be able to erase centuries of neighbourly ties, alter the realities of geography or rewrite the facts of our shared ancestry. For what brought the Gulf together was not political agreements, but generations who lived along its shores, mothers who prayed to the Almighty for the safe return of their sons, and fathers united by faith on its land.”

He continued: “Geography, history and blood ties bring us together, and media platforms will not drive us apart. Our shared development journey and common economic interests unite us, and social media calculations will not divide us. Our shared development goals bring us together, and neither narrow agendas nor ill‑intentioned individuals will succeed in driving us apart.”

The message came amid growing calls for unity across Gulf social media, with several public figures urging users to set aside online insults and focus on longstanding societal ties.

Dr Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE President, urged Gulf nationals to rise above social media disputes, saying that offensive exchanges did not reflect the region’s ethics and values.

Saudi Prince Abdulrahman bin Musaad, a prominent poet, also addressed the issue after being drawn into an online comparison involving his poetry, writing: “My advice is that we seek out and highlight what unites us, not what divides us. We should promote opinions that bring people together and set aside those that drive them apart.”

Unity Defined Beyond Politics

Sheikh Mohammed clarified that his call for unity does not mean a political union that erases each state’s distinct character.

Quote: “Unity does not mean opening borders; it means bringing hearts together. Strength does not lie in eliminating differences, but in managing them in a way that creates renewed vitality. When different rivers flow into the same sea, they do not lose their names; instead, they create an ocean of opportunities, wealth and strength.”

He concluded with optimism for the Gulf’s future.

Quote: “By the will of Allah, the Gulf will endure — with its deserts, its people, its sea and its ports; with its projects and the determination of its generations; and with its horizons across which our dreams will soar in hopes that our Gulf may remain united and our people one, proclaiming in an unceasing voice: “I am a Gulf Arab, and I am proud to be one.”