Abu Dhabi has shifted its approach from merely opposing political Islam locally to extending its campaign into Europe, forming alliances with some of the continent’s most anti-Muslim groups.
As part of this strategy, the French news organization Mediapart has uncovered that Jordan Bardella, the leader of the far-right National Rally party, is set to embark on an official visit to Abu Dhabi shortly.
This visit, arranged by European Parliament member Thierry Mariani, represents the peak of more than ten years of strengthening bonds between the UAE and the National Rally. It highlights a tactical political move aimed at elevating the international profile of France’s far-right while positioning Abu Dhabi as an unconventional ally endorsing nationalist, anti-Islam, and anti-immigrant sentiments.
Reports indicate that the National Rally regards the UAE as a “strategic partner” in its fight against what it terms “Islamic extremism,” a phrase often misused to justify discriminatory actions against Muslim populations in various European nations.
Confidential Meetings and Electoral Support
This partnership is not a recent development. In 2014, Marine Le Pen, the party’s former leader, reportedly welcomed a senior UAE security official for a clandestine meeting at her home. According to a former adviser, the Emirati officials offered direct financial backing for the party’s political campaigns.
Through complex financial channels and public relations agencies, the UAE has facilitated hidden funding, including sponsorship of Le Pen’s 2015 trip to Cairo, organized by Abu Dhabi.
Pragmatic Normalization Based on Common Interests
For the UAE, the support for a far-right party like the National Rally is in line with its proclaimed values of “tolerance.” This aligns with its localized interpretation of combating “political Islam.”
Abu Dhabi distinguishes between “cultural Islam,” accepted in a non-political form, and “communal Islam,” seen as a political threat—particularly in Europe. Consequently, it perceives right-wing allies as natural collaborators in dismantling organized Muslim activism in France and beyond.
Bardella has recently recognized the UAE as an “essential partner,” emphasizing that cooperation with nations like Saudi Arabia and the UAE should not be limited by human rights concerns.
Exploiting Muslim Communities as Political Capital
This alliance serves not only to create a new political front but also aims to redefine the narrative surrounding Muslim communities in Europe, depicting them as a “fifth column” or cultural threats.
Concerned about the potential sway of Islamic movements abroad, the UAE considers Muslim communities in cities like Paris and Brussels extensions of that threat. Their support for parties advocating legal restrictions or outright bans fits into a broader strategy to contain these perceived threats.
In France, the National Rally has continually pushed for a ban on the Muslim Brotherhood, a stance that resonates with Abu Dhabi’s official viewpoint and now constitutes a collaborative agenda: silencing Islamic voices while promoting the far-right nationalist cause.
Extending Influence in Africa with Emirati Support
The National Rally’s international outreach, including Marine Le Pen’s trips to Senegal and Chad, as well as Bardella’s planned visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo, is orchestrated through networks linked to the UAE.
These trips are designed not only to internationalize the party’s identity but also to establish its legitimacy as a “transnational political force” supported by authoritarian regimes willing to provide political backing.
This partnership with the UAE forms part of a broader strategy employed by far-right groups to secure funding through non-Western financial pathways, circumventing traditional Western banking systems that frequently reject transactions with extremist parties.
Rehabilitating the Far Right—with Emirati Assistance
For years, the National Rally has sought to improve its image, previously marred by associations with racism and neo-Nazism. Bardella has increased his international visibility by participating in conferences on anti-Semitism in Israel, visiting the U.S., and hosting officials from other nations.
The UAE’s backing goes beyond financial contributions, encompassing media promotion, public relations strategies, and establishing diplomatic connections throughout the Middle East and Europe to reposition the party as a mainstream conservative entity.
A Troubling Alliance
The collaboration between the UAE and the National Rally can only be fully understood through their mutual animosity towards Muslims as both a political and social bloc. While Abu Dhabi perceives political Islam as a threat to its authoritarian structure, the National Rally aims to garner support by portraying Muslims as adversaries of French identity.
This union poses risks not only to Muslim communities across Europe but also signifies a deeper alignment between authoritarian regimes in the Middle East and fascist-leaning groups in the West. It creates a mutually beneficial alliance that could lead to further policies detrimental to civil liberties and undermine the democratic foundations of Europe.