Arab nations are considering an Egyptian proposal to establish a joint military force comprising troops and arms contributed by members of the Arab League, sources have told The National.
The proposal, first mooted in 2015, is being resurrected in response to Israel's strike on the Qatari capital of Doha which targeted senior Hamas leaders.
The attack sparked strong condemnation from Arab nations as well as Western powers.
The proposal to create a united, Nato-style military force was first presented by Egypt at a 2015 Arab summit held in Sharm El Sheikh. It was adopted in principle, but progress was not made in follow-up meetings, reportedly because of differences over a command structure and headquarters for the force.
At the time, the Egyptian proposal was drafted in response to the takeover of large areas of Yemen by the Iran-backed Houthis. A Saudi-led coalition was established instead to fight on the side of Yemen's internationally-recognised government.
Egypt is now understood to be pushing for Cairo to be the force's headquarters. Egypt, which boasts the Middle East's largest army, also wants the commander's position to rotate among the 22 members of the Arab League, with an Egyptian serving the first term. A civilian would serve as secretary-general.
The force would be made up of naval, air and ground units and boast an unspecified number of elite troops trained as commandos and in counterterrorism tactics, the sources said. The force would also take up peacekeeping missions in Arab countries.
Besides the overall commander, the force would have a chief of staff selected from one of the participating nations. There would also be a planning council that takes care of training, logistics and the harmonising of weapon systems.
The size of contributions towards the force would vary from one country to another depending on the size of its military and its capabilities.
The use of force in combat or peacekeeping missions would require a formal request by the concerned nation and would require the approval of the commander and chief of staff after consultations with all participating nations.
The Arab League, founded in 1945 and headquartered in Cairo, has for decades had a joint defence agreement binding its members. Forces drawn from the Egyptian and other Arab militaries have frequently held joint war games over the past decade. Combat units from several Arab nations fought alongside Jordanian, Syrian and Egyptian troops in wars against Israel.
Previous attempts to create a permanent, Nato-style Arab force have come to nothing due to considerations over sovereignty, conflicting interests and command structure.
The joint Arab force proposal is understood to have been discussed over recent days between Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and several Arab leaders.
The talks come ahead of the two-day Arab-Islamic summit in Doha on Sunday and Monday to formulate a unified response to Israel's attack on Qatar. The joint Arab force idea, sources said, will probably be discussed on the summit's sidelines.
The force would “deal with security threats and terrorism or anyone who poses a threat to the Arab world's safety and stability,” one of the sources said.
The resurrection of the proposal now takes on added significance given the turmoil roiling the Middle East.
The war in Gaza will enter its third year next month, with Israel responding to a deadly Hamas-led attack in October 2023 with a devastating military campaign that has killed more than 64,000 Palestinians and laid to waste most of the coastal enclave.
The war has also led to Israel fighting Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and a 12-day war with sworn enemy Iran. Israeli strikes and incursions have also continued in Syria, despite the fall of the Assad regime late last year.
With Israel enjoying ironclad support from the US under President Donald Trump, many in the Arab world now believe Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will stop at nothing in the battle against perceived enemies across the region and that the Arabs need to close ranks more than ever before.
Company%20profile
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
More coverage from the Future Forum
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh12 million
Engine 8.0-litre quad-turbo, W16
Gearbox seven-speed dual clutch auto
Power 1479 @ 6,700rpm
Torque 1600Nm @ 2,000rpm 0-100kph: 2.6 seconds 0-200kph: 6.1 seconds
Top speed 420 kph (governed)
Fuel economy, combined 35.2L / 100km (est)
Dengue%20fever%20symptoms
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Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
