When Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s aircraft landed at Nur Khan Air Base for his official visit to Pakistan last month, the gesture of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir personally receiving him carried far more geopolitical weight than mere symbolism. It was a mutual acknowledgement of influence and intent as Zayed chose Pakistan for his first official visit as the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). However, there was something amiss under the choreography that could not be covered by protocol. The Middle East is evolving at a quicker pace than Pakistan had expected.