The increasing presence of digital authoritarianism within the People’s Republic of China, and subsequent efforts by the Chinese Government to export technologies aligned with digital authoritarianism to regional neighbors and other developing countries portends the growth of China’s soft power, and a dangerous shift in the global power balance as foreign governments move towards authoritarianism rather than democracy. If the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as a key financial and political actor in both the Middle Eastern and global stages, adopts this practice it may act as a catalyst for the further spread of digital authoritarianism and the associated rise of human rights infringement. Before considering the implications of this development it is first necessary to assess the likelihood of such adoption by the UAE. To make such an assessment I will examine the cultural environment of the UAE, as well as examining the UAE’s political leanings, financial and technological climate, and the state of its international relations. Following this analysis, I will examine the impact of digital authoritarianism in the UAE by analyzing the relationship between the UAE and the US and other Western powers, as well as the UAE’s connection to developing countries and its influence within the Middle East.
