Rift Deepens Between Saudi Arabia and UAE as Yemen Conflict Exposes Strategic Divergence
Long-standing Gulf allies find themselves at odds over Yemen’s future after UAE-backed separatists clash with Saudi-aligned forces, straining cooperation and exposing deeper geopolitical fault lines
Tensions between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have escalated sharply as developments in Yemen’s ongoing civil war expose deep strategic differences between two regional powers that once fought side by side against Iran-aligned Houthi rebels.
A recent incident in which Saudi authorities accused the UAE of aiding the escape of Yemeni separatist leader Aidarous al-Zubaidi to Abu Dhabi after he failed to attend crisis talks in Riyadh has underscored the rift between the Gulf allies and raised questions about the future of their partnership.
Saudi officials allege Zubaidi, the head of the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC), fled Aden by boat to Somaliland and was flown to the UAE, a charge Abu Dhabi has not publicly addressed, while Somalia has launched an investigation into the alleged use of its airspace.
These allegations come as Saudi Arabia condemned the STC’s advance into eastern Yemen, viewing it as a direct threat to its security, and conducted airstrikes against positions linked to the separatists.
Saudi forces and allied Yemeni government units have since recaptured key territory, including the Hadramout provincial capital Mukalla, after weeks of fighting that dramatically shifted the conflict’s dynamics.
The crisis reflects a breakdown in the Saudi-UAE relationship that for years saw both nations cooperate militarily and politically within the Saudi-led coalition to support Yemen’s internationally recognised government.
However, the UAE’s support for the STC — whose fighters seized significant portions of southern Yemen and have declared intent to seek independence — has put it at odds with Riyadh’s insistence on preserving Yemen’s unity under the recognised government.
The UAE announced plans to withdraw its troops from Yemen amid the fallout, framing the move as necessary for de-escalation, while Saudi Arabia has demanded Emirati forces depart the country within hours of the dispute.
Despite these deepening political and military tensions, extensive economic ties and trade between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi remain robust, driven by shared commercial interests and intertwined markets valued at around thirty billion dollars annually.
The entanglement of strategic divergence in Yemen with enduring economic integration illustrates how the once-cohesive alliance between Saudi Arabia and the UAE is evolving into a complex relationship marked by both rivalry and interdependence as both states navigate shifting regional security challenges.
A recent incident in which Saudi authorities accused the UAE of aiding the escape of Yemeni separatist leader Aidarous al-Zubaidi to Abu Dhabi after he failed to attend crisis talks in Riyadh has underscored the rift between the Gulf allies and raised questions about the future of their partnership.
Saudi officials allege Zubaidi, the head of the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC), fled Aden by boat to Somaliland and was flown to the UAE, a charge Abu Dhabi has not publicly addressed, while Somalia has launched an investigation into the alleged use of its airspace.
These allegations come as Saudi Arabia condemned the STC’s advance into eastern Yemen, viewing it as a direct threat to its security, and conducted airstrikes against positions linked to the separatists.
Saudi forces and allied Yemeni government units have since recaptured key territory, including the Hadramout provincial capital Mukalla, after weeks of fighting that dramatically shifted the conflict’s dynamics.
The crisis reflects a breakdown in the Saudi-UAE relationship that for years saw both nations cooperate militarily and politically within the Saudi-led coalition to support Yemen’s internationally recognised government.
However, the UAE’s support for the STC — whose fighters seized significant portions of southern Yemen and have declared intent to seek independence — has put it at odds with Riyadh’s insistence on preserving Yemen’s unity under the recognised government.
The UAE announced plans to withdraw its troops from Yemen amid the fallout, framing the move as necessary for de-escalation, while Saudi Arabia has demanded Emirati forces depart the country within hours of the dispute.
Despite these deepening political and military tensions, extensive economic ties and trade between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi remain robust, driven by shared commercial interests and intertwined markets valued at around thirty billion dollars annually.
The entanglement of strategic divergence in Yemen with enduring economic integration illustrates how the once-cohesive alliance between Saudi Arabia and the UAE is evolving into a complex relationship marked by both rivalry and interdependence as both states navigate shifting regional security challenges.
