Hili Forum 2026 concludes with emphasis on regional dialogue and cooperation
The Hili Forum concluded with more than 1,600 delegates calling for sustainable stability amid global fragmentation
10 September, 2026
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The UAE’s top diplomat called on Monday for a “clear” path on Iran’s nuclear programme and serious de-escalation efforts, warning that the Gulf can no longer sustain an indefinite state of neither war nor peace.
Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash, Diplomatic Advisor to the UAE President, told the closing session of the Hili Forum 2026 that the region’s stability requires “sustainable stability, governed by clear and common rules” rather than the fragile arrangements that currently prevail.
“Our region cannot continue indefinitely in a long period of neither war nor peace. Its stability, and the future of its people, require clarity of vision and of path,” Gargash said during the two-day strategic forum that drew more than 1,600 senior officials, diplomats, business leaders and academics from 35 countries.
The comments underscored growing regional concern that the current security architecture, forged through agreements like the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and more recent normalisation accords, remains vulnerable to reversal. The message also reflected anxiety about economic consequences of prolonged geopolitical tension on energy markets, shipping lanes and investment flows critical to Gulf prosperity.
Gargash’s emphasis on clarity over ambiguity signalled that the UAE wants explicit terms, verification mechanisms and consequences around any Iran nuclear arrangement, moving beyond the diplomatic opacity that has characterised past negotiations.
“What comes next cannot rest on fragile arrangements that are detached from, or that undermine international law. Getting there requires serious de-escalation, a long-term diplomatic approach to regional stability, and a clear path on Iran’s nuclear programme – clear in its terms, clear in its verification, and clear in its consequences,” he said.
The forum, held under the theme “Gulf at Crossroads: Conflict, Consequences and Course Correction,” centred on three strategic pillars: geopolitics, geoeconomics and geotechnology. It concluded with participants emphasising the need for practical approaches to strengthen Gulf security, stability and prosperity while bolstering the region’s role in shaping the international order.
GULF’S ECONOMIC RESILIENCE
The forum highlighted the Gulf’s efforts to insulate its economy from geopolitical turbulence through economic diversification and infrastructure investment.
Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, told delegates that the UAE has demonstrated “its ability to turn global challenges into strategic opportunities, diversifying trade and logistics routes, accelerating infrastructure development, and investing in the technologies and industries of tomorrow.”
“We will continue to expand our network of trade and investment partnerships, support the smooth flow of global commerce, and strengthen the UAE’s role as a vital bridge between continents,” Al Zeyoudi said.
The forum highlighted the Gulf states’ efforts to build economic resilience through diversification and infrastructure investment, even as geopolitical uncertainties persist.
Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, participated in the forum’s discussions on maintaining economic and diplomatic cohesion among member states, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman, despite divergent national interests.
FRAGMENTATION AND MIDDLE POWER DIPLOMACY
The forum concluded with a plenary on “Role of Middle Powers in a Ruptured Global Order,” which brought together former leaders and strategic experts including Carl Bildt, former Prime Minister of Sweden and co-chair of the European Council on Foreign Relations; Vuk Jeremić, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia; and Zhandos Shaimardanov, director of the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies.
The two-day forum also featured a plenary session on “Data, Drones, Digital (Dis) Order,” which brought together Dr Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, head of the UAE Cyber Security Council; Ambassador Yoo Jeh Seung, former Ambassador of South Korea to the UAE; Daniel Mouton, VP and chief executive of Lockheed Martin Middle East; and Talal AlKaissi, CEO of Core42 and acting group chief global affairs officer at G42.
The programme also featured a presentation by Dr David Scharia, director and chief of Branch at the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate of the United Nations Security Council, as well as a fireside chat with Luigi Di Maio, European Union Special Representative for the Gulf Region.
PLATFORM FOR DIALOGUE
Dr Sultan Mohammed Al-Nuaimi, Director General of the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research, which co-organised the forum, said the event underscored the deep interconnection between Gulf security and the functioning of global commerce.
“The essence of the crossroads lies in moving the international response beyond managing the consequences of crises towards a vision that reflects the Gulf’s importance to the stability of the international order,” he said.
Nickolay E Mladenov, DG of the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy, said the forum demonstrated the importance of sustained dialogue amid global fragmentation.
“The Gulf is increasingly one of the places where the future international order is being negotiated, contested and tested,” Mladenov said. “The challenge for the region is whether it can withstand an age of fragmentation, but whether it can remain a source of connection, continue building relationships and institutions, and strengthen trust across divides.”
The forum concluded by reaffirming the importance of continued dialogue among regional and international actors, even as traditional multilateral institutions face strain and major power competition intensifies.
