At a moment when global leadership feels increasingly hesitant, and the Middle East is trapped between ideological extremism and humanitarian catastrophe, two figures stand out for producing tangible, measurable shifts in the region’s diplomatic landscape: Donald Trump and Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. One reshaped policy from Washington; the other reshaped reality from Abu Dhabi. Both altered the course of regional history, and both now deserve serious consideration for the world’s most prestigious peace honor: the Nobel Prize.

The case for Donald Trump has already been debated internationally for his role in enabling the Abraham Accords. But the case for Mohammed bin Zayed—MBZ—is equally powerful and in many respects more urgent today. As the leader of the United Arab Emirates, he has consistently chosen stability over chaos, modernity over ideological rigidity, and human development over destructive geopolitics. In a region defined for decades by entrenched conflicts and maximalist ideologies, MBZ has charted an entirely different course, one rooted in a clear moral and strategic vision.

The UAE was the first nation to fully embrace and implement the Abraham Accords, a decision that required extraordinary courage. Signing the normalization agreement with Israel meant defying regional ideological currents, confronting the hostility of extremist networks such as the Muslim Brotherhood, and navigating pressure from Iran and its affiliated movements. The risks were real. The Houthis—an Iranian-aligned group—launched weaponized drones at Abu Dhabi during this period, underscoring the volatility of the regional environment. Yet even amid these destabilizing actions, the UAE did not reconsider its commitment to diplomacy, coexistence, and long-term stability. MBZ’s response remained measured, resilient, and focused on the broader vision for his country and the region.

This strategic steadiness is what transformed the Abraham Accords from a diplomatic experiment into a durable, functioning regional architecture. President Trump created the political framework that allowed normalization to emerge, but MBZ provided........

© The National Interest