Turkey and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are rekindling diplomatic relations after over a decade of rivalry driven by their opposing stances on the Arab Spring and political Islam. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s recent visit to the UAE signals a strategic pivot as both nations seek mutual economic and geopolitical benefits. The two sides signed 13 cooperation agreements, with the UAE pledging $5 billion in support for Turkey’s ailing economy and promising $50 billion in future investments. This diplomatic thaw carries significant implications for the Horn of Africa. Both nations hold strong stakes in Ethiopia and Somalia, where their competing interests have previously fueled instability. While the détente raises hopes for greater cooperation in supporting post-conflict reconstruction in Ethiopia and infrastructure development in Somalia, the renewed partnership also risks intensifying rivalries with other regional players, such as Qatar.