Saudi Arabia and UAE Face Growing Tensions Over Yemen Strategy

By Amr Gohar

Washington, D.C. –  Tensions between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are once again surfacing over their diverging strategies in Yemen, highlighting growing differences between two Gulf allies once closely aligned in the conflict.

While both countries entered the Yemen war in 2015 as part of a Saudi-led coalition aimed at countering Iran-backed Houthi forces, their priorities have increasingly diverged, particularly in southern Yemen. Riyadh continues to support Yemen’s internationally recognized government and emphasizes maintaining the country’s territorial unity. Abu Dhabi, meanwhile, has backed powerful local militias and political factions that seek greater autonomy or outright separation from the north.

The split reflects broader strategic differences between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed, both of whom have reshaped their countries’ foreign policies but with distinct regional goals.

Saudi Arabia views stability in Yemen as directly tied to its national security, particularly along its southern border. Officials close to Riyadh argue that any fragmentation of Yemen risks empowering armed groups and prolonging instability. In contrast, the UAE has focused on securing strategic ports, trade routes, and counterterrorism operations, especially along Yemen’s southern coast.

A major source of friction has been the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC), a separatist group that has gained control over key areas in southern Yemen. Saudi officials have expressed concern that the STC’s actions undermine the Yemeni government and complicate peace efforts, while the UAE has defended its support as necessary to maintain security and combat extremist groups.

Diplomatic strains have also emerged following accusations that Abu Dhabi has provided political and logistical backing to southern leaders without full coordination with Riyadh. These developments have at times led to clashes between Saudi-aligned and UAE-aligned forces on the ground, weakening the unity of the anti-Houthi coalition.

Despite the tensions, both Mohammed bin Salman and Mohammed bin Zayed continue to publicly affirm the importance of Gulf cooperation and regional stability. However, analysts say Yemen has become a clear example of how the two powers increasingly pursue parallel — rather than fully aligned — regional strategies.

As Yemen remains mired in conflict and humanitarian crisis, the growing divergence between Saudi Arabia and the UAE risks further complicating diplomatic efforts to end the war and rebuild the country. How Riyadh and Abu Dhabi manage their differences may prove decisive not only for Yemen’s future, but for the balance of power in the Gulf region as a whole.