Monday, 25 May 2026
Egypt SIS chief rebuts Economist article on Cairo–Abu Dhabi ties
Egypt’s State Information Service (SIS) chief has accused The Economist of publishing a “simplistic and misleading” analysis of Egypt–UAE relations, rejecting what he described as factual errors and unfounded assumptions in a recent article by the British weekly.
In a written response, SIS chairman Ambassador Alaa Youssef said the article, titled “Mother of the World faces a new arrival,” failed to reflect the real dynamics and long‑standing strategic partnership between Cairo and Abu Dhabi. He said the magazine had fallen into “a structural contradiction” by portraying Emirati investment as a tool of political pressure while simultaneously acknowledging Egypt’s independent foreign policy.
Youssef stressed that ties between the two countries are not those of “donor and recipient,” but a decades‑long, sustainable partnership underpinned by strong economic integration, growing bilateral trade, and the presence of hundreds of thousands of Egyptians living and working in the UAE. This, he said, contradicts “generalizations and exaggerations” in the Economist’s report.
He noted that Egypt’s close coordination with the UAE was evident in President Abdel Fattah al‑Sisi’s two official visits to Abu Dhabi during the current regional crisis.
The SIS chief also rejected the magazine’s interpretation of diplomatic protocol during Arab state visits. He said informal meetings and relaxed protocol in Arab culture are signs of deep trust and fraternal ties between leaders, not intentional slights.
Youssef criticized the article’s suggestion that Egypt’s efforts to de‑escalate regional tensions reflected a “lack of loyalty.” He said Egypt’s approach to preventing further regional conflict protects broad economic and security interests, including those of the UAE.
He concluded by questioning the magazine’s professional standards, saying its editors had ignored an official invitation to meet with officials from Egypt’s New Administrative Capital after publishing a previous critical report. He renewed the invitation for The Economist’s team to visit Egypt and “see the facts for themselves,” expressing hope that the magazine would publish his full response in line with international professional norms.