Email: Abdulla.Alshaikh@gcu.ac.uk

Abdulla attained his master's degree in International Communication and Diplomacy from the London Academy of Diplomacy at the University of East Anglia, UK.

He completed his Bachelor of Business Administration at the American University in Dubai, while immersing himself in principal subjects such as Managing Change and Innovation; Strategic Management; Business Research; Leadership; Middle Eastern Cultures and World Cultures. Abdulla also holds a Diploma in Law and Police Science from the Dubai Police Academy, UAE.

Abdulla has attended more than 70 conferences within his field of research. He has also submitted seven papers, one of which was covered in the political panel's presentation on 'Security and Nation Branding during the 20th International Symposium in the Series of Diplomacy in the 21st century: The Nexus of Diplomacy, Sport, Politics and the Media'. This was held at Loughborough University London on 22 May 2017 in which Abdulla was the youngest panellist alongside diplomats and ambassadors.

Dissertation

• Emerging Security Threats in the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) Region Post the Arab Spring: United Arab Emirates.
• Supervisors: Dr. Madhu Acharyya, Professor Rona Beattie and Professor Nabil Ayad.

Current research

Abdulla's research recognises that security is a universal issue affecting all countries in the world, therefore allocating human and material resources to deal with the emerging threats in a rapidly mutating global environment is an enormous challenge. Threats at the beginning of the 21st century include, amongst others; terrorism, cyber security, famine, human migration, and environmental degradation. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is no exception to this phenomenon. Even within the region momentous challenges have occurred recently since Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates broke off diplomatic relations with Qatar in the worst diplomatic crisis to hit Gulf Arab states in decades.

Abdulla's research investigates the emergence of the UAE as an independent and cohesive political actor. The declaration of its independence in 1971 marked a major geopolitical shift in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region as the small Emirates quickly claimed the status of a key international political player. Indeed, the abundant availability of fossil fuels upon which the UAE centred its export industry, the stability of its internal federal political arrangements and the prudent economic policies employed by the regime ensured domestic stability that has remained unprecedented throughout the region.