Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, and Emirates Policy Center president, Dr. Ebtesam Al Ketbi, discussed the balance achieved in the United Arab Emirates between the concepts of "hard" and "soft" power.

This was at the fourth panel of the fourth Abu Dhabi Strategic Debate, titled "Soft Power in International Politics: UAE as a Model".

Al Kaabi said the attraction of the model presented by the UAE makes up for the limitations of its demographic and geography, as the country presents itself as a model of development and coexistence, and works to employ its economic, cultural, and humanitarian elements to be a country open to all cultures. She added that these efforts were exemplified by the recent formation of the UAE Soft Power Council.

She believed that the achievements gained through "soft" power should be protected by "hard" power, using the example of the UAE’s participation in the international coalition against Daesh, which she considered to be one form of protecting the elements of soft power: moderate Islam.

Dr. Ebtesam spoke of the most prominent elements of soft power in the UAE, demonstrated by its being the only successful model of a federation in the region, in addition to its economic success, good governance, and openness to globalization and support for moderate Islam.

Al Kaabi also shed light on the main elements of soft power in the UAE, represented by education and knowledge management, media which succeeds in reaching the audience in the 21st century, in addition to the third element which was the continuous training to spread skills and develop them.