Friday, January 2nd 2026
Cooling from changing economic and political ambitions
Rivalry between the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, once strong allies, has now surfaced in Yemen, after years of divergence, from Sudan to the Horn of Africa, including the economy.
In the background, rumors of a conflict between the powerful men of the two neighboring oil-producing states, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also known as MbS in the West, and the president of the Emirates, Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, also known as MbZ.
MbZ, 64, was once considered a mentor to MbS, 40, their personal relationship described by some as the heart of this alliance.
But their ambitions began to diverge as the Saudi crown prince accelerated economic reforms in his country and engaged in moves to consolidate its sovereignty.
The pair are divided on various issues
According to Baraa Shiban, an expert on Yemen and the Gulf, Riyadh is worried because of the Emirates’ maneuvers in Sudan and Yemen, accusing the UAE of destabilizing these countries by supporting factions that oppose their governments.
The expert also points to the Emirates’ “obsession” with the Muslim Brotherhood, which is suspected of meddling in various countries, which Saudi Arabia does not share, at least to this extent.
In an unprecedented escalation, Riyadh, the main backer of Yemen’s internationally recognized government, accused the Emirates on Tuesday of “extremely dangerous” actions because of its support for the separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC).
The kingdom’s military coalition bombed an arms shipment. which was allegedly shipped from the Emirates to an STC-controlled port on the same day.
Until this week, the two powers were united against the Houthi rebels in Yemen’s war, which they were involved in in 2015.
However, the alliance has shown cracks, with Abu Dhabi withdrawing most of its forces from Yemen in 2019.
But this is the first time that The two states’ disputes have erupted “publicly” and “in such a way,” notes Emaduddin Badi, a researcher specializing in the Middle East and North Africa.
In Sudan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates also support opposing camps.
The Emirates are accused of arming and supplying the Rapid Support Force (RSF) paramilitaries, in a relentless war against regular army since April 2023, something that, although categorically denied, has been documented by data collected by NGOs and UN experts.
The Sudanese army is supported by Riyadh, Ankara, Tehran and Moscow, according to observers.
According to Mr. Badi, the progress of the separatists in Yemen should probably be interpreted as the “revenge” of the Emirates against the visit MbS made to Washington in November, when he allegedly put pressure on the Sudan file.
Behind their interest in Sudan lies their desire to control the trade routes of the Red Sea and guarantee food supplies. Abu Dhabi is also interested in Sudan’s large gold deposits, he said.
The strategic location of the Horn of Africa, on the Red Sea, near the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, is also a point of contention.
The emirate has relations with Ethiopia and Somaliland, which has declared its independence from Somalia, and has a military base in the port of Berbera under an agreement that dates back to 2017.
Saudi Arabia, like Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, supports Mogadishu.
Israel, which normalized relations with the United Arab Emirates in 2020, recognized Somaliland last week, a move condemned by Riyadh and 20 other mainly Muslim countries. The Emirates, however, did not.
As Mr Badi sees it, recognition could “increase the sense of threat” in Riyadh, as Somaliland could recognize Israel and “the UAE intends to exploit”.
After a dispute over OPEC production quotas in 2021, the economic rivalry between the two countries – both seeking to reduce their dependence on oil – is intensified.
Riyadh is seeking to attract multinational companies, to persuade them to settle in Saudi Arabia – and is insisting that some leave the Emirates.
It has also bought a new airline, a new airport and is looking to create resorts to rival those in Dubai.
It is worth noting that it is discreetly relaxing the law on alcohol consumption, allowing it in cases wealthy foreign residents or non-Muslim visitors. /square
Source: prizrenpost
Etiketa: Brief
