Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have become closer to each other following the escalation of attacks by Ansar Allah in Yemen. On September 29, Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy President of the UAE, traveled to Saudi Arabia and met with Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince of the country. These meetings are part of efforts to restore relations between the two countries, which have been severely affected by the Yemen war.
History of Tensions Between Saudi Arabia and UAE
Saudi Arabia and the UAE have been militarily intervening in Yemen since March 2015, but gradually a rift developed between them. The two countries supported different groups in Yemen, which led to the UAE withdrawing from the front lines in Yemen in 2019. At this time, clashes between Saudi-backed and UAE-backed forces in Aden became clearly evident.
Tensions in the relations between these two countries continued until December 2025, when UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) forces attacked eastern provinces of Yemen. This action was seen as crossing a red line in Saudi security considerations and led to an escalation of Saudi airstrikes against STC forces.
Change in Strategic Approach
Following the recent attacks by Ansar Allah, it seems that Saudi Arabia and the UAE are moving towards greater coordination and cooperation. This change in approach is due to security threats arising from Houthi attacks and regional tensions with Iran. On July 21, senior Saudi and Emirati officials simultaneously issued statements indicating a desire to strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation.
Currently, in light of new threats from the Houthis and scattered conflicts in Yemen, the need for cooperation and strengthening forces in areas not controlled by the Houthis in southern and eastern Yemen has become more important. This cooperation could form a united front against common threats and help Saudi Arabia and the UAE face upcoming security challenges.
