Leaving aside whether that’s the motivation or not, on net surely these projects have been a net negative for the image of these regimes. The Qatar World Cup worst of all. (Well, MBS having that Washington Post reporter chopped to pieces in a Turkish consulate was probably worst of all, but there ya go.)
Recognizing and normalizing relations with Israel is their go-to move for legitimacy and popular press in the West. Because again, their patron is the American defense industry, not European politics.
