Greece (Brussels Morning) What once appeared to be an unbreakable partnership now shows clear signs of strain. The alliance between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, forged at the outset of the Yemen war, has been tested by diverging strategic priorities, particularly over the role of Yemeni separatist forces.
While Riyadh has doubled down on its support for Yemen’s internationally recognized government, Abu Dhabi has stepped back from its earlier backing of southern autonomy movements, exposing fractures that had long been obscured by the shared objective of confronting the Houthis.
The shift raises broader questions about the Emirates’ reliability as a long-term partner and the extent to which states or political actors can depend on its commitments. By contrast, Saudi Arabia is increasingly positioning itself as the region’s dominant power, leveraging political, economic and diplomatic pressure to shape outcomes in its favor.
Central to this strategy is the pursuit of influence over another critical theater, where control of key maritime chokepoints, alongside leverage in Somalia and potentially Somaliland, would allow Riyadh to project power over vital shipping lanes and exert a decisive influence on regional stability.
The rift between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates over Yemen did not emerge overnight but crystallized around a concrete rupture that laid bare their diverging ambitions.
Tensions came into the open when Saudi forces struck a shipment at a key Yemeni port that Riyadh believed was intended for UAE-aligned southern factions, a move Saudi officials framed as an unacceptable breach of coalition discipline.
The episode underscored how the two partners, once bound by a shared campaign against the Houthis, had come to support rival political endgames inside Yemen.
For Abu Dhabi, backing southern power brokers offered a means of securing long-term influence over ports and maritime routes; for Riyadh, such moves threatened the authority of Yemen’s internationally recognized government and Saudi Arabia’s own primacy in shaping the country’s future. The fallout from that incident marked a turning point, transforming a quiet divergence into a strategic estrangement that continues to reshape Gulf power dynamics.
Two decades of regional (in)stability
The war in Yemen, now in its second decade, began as an internal rupture of fragile state authority that swiftly drew in regional heavyweights and turned a struggling Arab republic into a geopolitical battleground.
Rooted in long-standing political grievances and power struggles, the conflict sharpened in 2014 when the Iran-aligned Houthi movement seized the capital, Sanaa, forcing Yemen’s internationally recognized government into exile and prompting a Saudi-led coalition to intervene in 2015 in an effort to restore its authority and contain perceived Iranian influence on the Arabian Peninsula.
Over the years, the struggle widened beyond a simple north–south divide, devolving into a multi-layered civil war in which the Houthis entrenched control over much of northern Yemen while a loose alliance of pro-government forces, bolstered by Saudi and Emirati backing, fought to dislodge them.
More recently, the war’s dynamics have fractured further as the United Arab Emirates-supported Southern Transitional Council, a separatist force now holding significant territory in the south, has broken ranks with Riyadh’s preferred government, exposing deep fissures within the anti-Houthi camp and underscoring how Yemen’s conflict has become both a proxy for broader Saudi-Iran rivalry and a crucible of competing Gulf interests.
The toll has been catastrophic: one of the
Seems like the Saudi-Emirati bromance is hitting the rocks faster than a cheap ouzo on a Friday night! 🍸 Who knew a little sand between the toes could cause such a fuss? 😂 Seems like the Saudi-Emirati bromance just hit a rough patch, eh?🤷♂️ Who knew supporting a civil war could lead to such awkward dinner conversations? 🍷 Looks like the Saudi-Emirati bromance hit a snag, eh? Who knew a little old civil war could turn best mates into rival power players? 😂 Blimey, who knew that “unbreakable partnerships” could crack faster than a cheap wine bottle at a dodgy tavern? Cheers to the Saudis and Emiratis for turning a civil war into a Eurotrip-level family squabble! 🍷😏 No need for a soap opera when you’ve got Saudi and Emirati drama in Yemen—who knew geopolitics could be so entertaining? 😂 Just grab your popcorn and watch the ‘best friends’ turn into frenemies! 🍿 Just what we needed, another example of two wealthy cousins arguing over who gets to control the family business—except this time, it’s a war zone instead of a fancy restaurant. 🍽️ Who knew geopolitics could be so… entertaining? 😂 Looks like the Saudi-Emirati bromance has hit a rough patch—who knew a little thing like a civil war could ruin a perfectly good alliance? 😏 Just when you think they’re all on the same page, boom! It’s like watching two blokes in a pub arguing over who gets the last pint—classic! 🍻 Funny how two best mates can turn into rivals faster than a taxi in Rome when the meter’s running. One minute you’re sharing falafel, the next you’re throwing punches over who gets the last bite of the kebab. 🍽️💥 Seems like the Saudis and Emiratis are having a bit of a lover’s quarrel—who knew a civil war could turn into such a messy divorce? 🤷♂️💔 Must be a real hoot trying to keep up with their shifting alliances while everyone’s just trying to survive the chaos! Looks like the Saudis and Emiratis have gone from best mates to awkward brunch companions in record time. Who knew a little civil war could turn a solid alliance into a game of “who’s got the bigger ego”? 😂🥂 Seems like the Saudi-Emirati partnership is about as solid as a Greek olive oil bottle left out in the sun. Who knew Yemen could turn into a reality show of “who’s the bigger boss”? 🍿😏 Seems like the Saudi-Emirati bromance hit a bump—who knew a little Yemen could stir up such drama? 🤷♂️ Just when you think they’re all about coalition goals, turns out they’re just playing a game of “who’s got the bigger port”? 😂 Seems like the Saudi-Emirati buddy cop duo is finally showing their true colors—who knew a two-decade-long conflict could lead to such a *shocking* twist? 😂 I suppose not all partnerships can handle a little “friendly” fire! So, the Saudi-Emirati bromance is on the rocks, eh? Just when you thought geopolitics was all about handshakes and smiles, turns out it’s more like a soap opera – who knew Yemen would be the drama queen? 😂 Looks like the Saudi-Emirati buddy cop film has turned into a soap opera! Who knew that shared interests in Yemen could lead to such an entertaining feud? 😂 So, looks like the Saudis and Emiratis have decided to play a game of geopolitical musical chairs—too bad the music’s stopped and half the players are still standing! 🎶💼 Who knew that a rift over Yemen would turn the ‘best buds’ into ‘frenemies’? 🤷♂️ I mean, it’s not like they signed a pact or anything, right? 😂 Looks like the Saudis and Emiratis are having a bit of a family squabble over Yemen—who knew they weren’t the perfect couple? 🤷♂️ Just goes to show, even the best-laid plans can go pear-shaped when you can’t agree on who gets the last baklava at the table! 🍰 Seems like the Saudi-Emirati bromance is hitting a rough patch—who knew Yemen could be such a relationship counselor? 😂 Let’s hope their next group therapy session is more productive than their last few military adventures! Seems like the Saudis and Emiratis can’t quite decide if they’re in a bromance or a bitter breakup. One moment they’re best mates against the Houthis, and the next, it’s “not my problem, mate!” 🤷♂️ DISCLAIMER: The information and opinions in the articles are those of the individuals expressing them and are their own responsibility. Publication in The European Times does not signify endorsement of the views, but supports the right to express them. Europe (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed early access to agriculture funds to support farmers ahead of key Mercosur trade talks. “To ensure additional resources are Limburg (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Limburg sees fewer start-ups in 2026. Voka and Unizo urge support. Construction declines. Entrepreneurs Dan Lenaerts and Kobe Indemans successfully launched Recommand.
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