The New Forts of Arabia

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

Bibliographic Data

ID21789176
AuthorsCatherine J Ro (0009-0007-4804-4642, University of St Andrews, corresponding author)
Year2026
Pages1-25
Publication date2026-06-29
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of War and Culture Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1752-6272 • E-ISSN: 1752-6280
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/17526272.2026.2690556
OpenAlexW7166577366
LanguageEN
References cited26

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

Colonialism · State (computer science) · Work (physics) · Cultural Heritage Management and Preservation · Global Maritime and Colonial Histories · Middle East and Rwanda Conflicts

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