Their rift had been growing behind the scenes for years before it exploded in public, raising concerns about a relationship with enormous geopolitical importance. The two Gulf powerhouses are running into increasing areas of disagreement. The most recent and most dramatic one centered on neighboring Yemen, where Riyadh and Abu Dhabi are currently backing different sides in the country’s ongoing three-sided conflict. By contrast, Riyadh backs the country’s internationally recognized government in its effort to regain control of a unified Yemen. The Saudis claimed that the UAE-backed STC, which controlled much of Yemen and had just captured more territory, was a threat to the kingdom.

Source: The North Africa Journal January 16, 2026 04:54 UTC