ISLAMABAD: The Gulf region, long characterized by cooperation among itsmonarchies, is witnessing a significant realignment in the relationshipbetween Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Historically bound byshared interests in countering Iranian influence and maintaining stability,the two countries have diverged markedly in recent years. This shift becamestarkly apparent in late 2025 when tensions over Yemen escalated intodirect confrontations, including Saudi military actions against positionslinked to UAE-backed groups. Analysts observe that while complete ruptureremains unlikely, the nature of their ties has evolved from synchronizedalliance to pragmatic, sometimes competitive, engagement driven by distinctnational priorities.
Recent developments in the Gulf region have highlighted a notable shift inthe longstanding alliance between Saudi Arabia and the United ArabEmirates, two pivotal members of the Gulf Cooperation Council. Once closelyaligned on numerous regional issues, including the intervention in Yemensince 2015, the two nations now exhibit clear divergences in foreign policyapproaches, particularly evident in conflicts such as Yemen and Sudan. Thisevolution, marked by incidents like Saudi airstrikes on alleged UAE-linkedshipments in Yemen’s Mukalla port in late December 2025, signals atransition from unified partnership to interest-based relations, raisingimplications for Gulf stability and broader Middle Eastern dynamics.
Saudi Arabia’s primary focus remains border security and the preservationof a unified Yemen under the internationally recognized government, nowrepresented by the Presidential Leadership Council. The kingdom views theconflict through the lens of protecting its southern frontier from Houthithreats and preventing fragmentation that could invite instability. Incontrast, the United Arab Emirates has prioritized strategic maritimecontrol, counter-terrorism operations, and influence in southern Yemen viaproxies such as the Southern Transitional Council. This divergence, whichbegan subtly after the UAE’s partial withdrawal from direct combat roles in2019, intensified as the STC pursued greater autonomy, clashing withRiyadh’s vision for national cohesion.
The Yemen war, initiated in 2015 by a Saudi-led coalition including the UAEto counter Houthi advances, has become a primary arena for this rivalry.Both nations initially aligned against Iranian-backed forces, yet theirobjectives diverged over time. Saudi Arabia emphasized containing Houthiexpansion and restoring central authority, while the UAE concentrated onsecuring key ports and backing southern separatists to safeguard economicand security interests in the Red Sea corridor. Recent events in December2025, when the STC seized territories near the Saudi border including partsof Hadramawt and Mahra, prompted Riyadh to label these moves a nationalsecurity red line, leading to airstrikes and demands for UAE withdrawal.
Beyond Yemen, the policy differences extend to other conflict zones. InSudan, where civil war has raged since 2023 between the Sudanese ArmedForces and the Rapid Support Forces, Saudi Arabia has supported mediationefforts favoring the central government, while reports from UN monitors andinternational observers have implicated the UAE in providing support to theparamilitary group, allegations Abu Dhabi denies. Similar patterns appearin Libya and potentially Syria, where the UAE’s willingness to engageproxies contrasts with Saudi Arabia’s preference for de-escalation tofacilitate economic reforms under Vision 2030. These divergences reflectbroader strategic outlooks: Riyadh seeks regional stability to attractinvestment, whereas Abu Dhabi pursues assertive influence projection.
Despite these frictions, economic interdependence and shared GCC membershipprevent total breakdown. Both nations boast substantial oil reserves andambitious diversification plans, with Saudi Arabia holding greaterpopulation and territorial scale while the UAE excels in global trade hubsand financial innovation. Competition in OPEC+ production quotas hasoccasionally surfaced, yet joint initiatives persist in areas likecountering extremism and humanitarian aid. The recent Yemen flare-up,culminating in the STC’s reported dissolution and UAE troop withdrawalannouncements in early 2026, suggests a temporary de-escalation, butunderlying tensions endure.
The implications for the Gulf Cooperation Council are profound. As the twolargest economies and military powers within the bloc, their discordhampers collective decision-making on regional security and economicintegration. Observers note that this shift mirrors a broader trend in Gulfpolitics post-Arab uprisings, where national interests increasinglysupersede traditional solidarity. For Yemen, prolonged Saudi-Emiratirivalry risks entrenching fragmentation, sidelining nationalreconciliation, and complicating UN-led peace efforts amid ongoing Houthichallenges.
Read Top Stories
In the wider Middle East context, the rift influences alignments involvingIsrael, Iran, and external powers like the United States. Saudi Arabia’scautious approach to normalization with Israel contrasts with the UAE’sAbraham Accords participation, potentially complicating Riyadh’s diplomaticmaneuvers. Meanwhile, the competition underscores a move toward multipolarGulf dynamics, where states pursue independent foreign policies rather thanunified fronts.
Ultimately, while the Saudi-UAE relationship remains critically importantfor regional stability, its transformation into a more transactionalframework reflects adapting geopolitical realities. Sustained dialoguewithin GCC mechanisms could mitigate risks, yet persistent divergences insensitive areas like Yemen and Sudan indicate that full harmony may proveelusive in the foreseeable future.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/urdu/articles/cddgljy8dd0o
Council
ogimageimage-name