Brief
UAE and Saudi figures call for Gulf unity on social media
Diplomatic adviser Anwar Gargash and Saudi poet Prince Abdulrahman bin Musaad appeal for respectful online dialogue across the Gulf.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Emirati diplomatic adviser Anwar Gargash and Saudi poet Prince Abdulrahman bin Musaad urged Gulf nationals on Saturday, October 17, to move beyond online insults and highlight the region’s long‑standing ties, Khaleej Times reported.
What happened
Gargash posted on X, saying that while opinions may differ, “there is no alternative to solidarity, prioritising wisdom and rejecting bickering.” The prince, after being drawn into a poetry‑related comparison, wrote that he wanted to be kept out of the argument and called for “opinions that bring people together.” Saudi actor Nasser Al Qasabi praised the prince’s message, emphasizing deeper unity beyond “passing disagreement.” Emirati businessman Marwan Al Sarkal and social‑media user Saleh Al Shehhi also posted supportive messages, stressing a single Gulf family and recalling personal ties to Saudi Arabia.
What the reports add
The article notes that the appeal extends beyond politics into poetry, sport and everyday life. It cites an Emirati poet, Zayed Al Maisri, who used a football match between Al Ain and Al Hilal to stress brotherhood. It also references the earlier “Block without comment” initiative launched by Sheikh Abdulla bin Mohammed bin Butti Al Hamed, which encouraged users to block abusive accounts rather than engage.
What was said
“We may differ in our assessment of situations, but there is no alternative to solidarity, prioritising wisdom and rejecting bickling,” Gargash wrote on X.
“Please keep me out of this argument, which benefits nobody… My advice is that we seek out and highlight what unites us, not what divides us,” the prince wrote.
“What unites the peoples of the Gulf is deeper than a passing disagreement, and more firmly rooted than voices of incitement,” Al Qasabi said.
How it came about
The calls follow a series of Gulf‑wide efforts to curb hostile online behaviour, including the 2025 “Block without comment” campaign presented at the Arab Youth Media Creativity Summit in Egypt. They also arrive amid heightened social‑media attention after recent sporting rivalries and cultural exchanges, such as the Arabian Gulf Cup match on October 7, where Saudi Arabia defeated the UAE 2‑0.
Key facts
- Anwar Gargash urged Gulf nationals to set aside online bickering on October 17, 2026. (khaleejtimes.com)
- Saudi Prince Abdulrahman bin Musaad called for unity and asked to be excluded from a poetry dispute. (khaleejtimes.com)
- Actor Nasser Al Qasabi praised the prince’s message, calling Gulf unity deeper than disagreements. (khaleejtimes.com)
- The appeal references the earlier "Block without comment" initiative launched in 2025. (khaleejtimes.com)
Sources
- [1] khaleejtimes.com — originally reported as “UAE, Saudi figures urge Gulf nationals to put aside social media feuds”
