It only makes it hollow if you think she's asking for her own reassurance.
As a journalist, she's asking questions that she thinks the readership wants to know the answer to, and so it doesn't matter if she's married to a Sheikh herself, the question is on behalf of the reader, and at this point it's a question that should be easily answered by anyone.
The fact is 61% of the country thinks we should have less of a business relationship with the UAE because of their human rights records. Most of the people on this forum might be in the 20% that prioritises business, but you have to accept it's a minority position and every time anyone announces a big investment or partnership they should be able to answer the question. And if they can't or don't want to answer it then they probably shouldn't be doing the deal.