The New Forts of Arabia: Heritage, Securitization, and the State in the Arabian Gulf. A Comparative Study of Qatar, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia

This article examines how Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Saudi Arabia have transformed cultural heritage into a component of national security. Drawing on securitization theory and cultural security, it argues that museums, heritage districts, and cultural megaprojects are used not only for tourism and nation branding, but to reinforce identity, legitimise political authority, and manage the uncertainties of globalisation and the post-oil transition. Through a comparative analysis of national visions, museum developments, and flagship projects, the study identifies three distinct models of heritage securitisation: Qatar's defence of linguistic and moral authenticity, the UAE's performance of cosmopolitanism and openness, and Saudi Arabia's state-led programme of cultural transformation and narrative control. It argues that heritage has become a central instrument of governance and international projection, while generating new tensions, contradictions, and contested identities.