Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received UAE Vice President Mansour bin Zayed in Riyadh on Tuesday, marking a high‑level meeting aimed at restoring cooperation between the two Gulf states. The talks come as the Houthi movement in Yemen escalates its military campaign, endangering the kingdom’s vital Red Sea oil export corridor and launching drone attacks that have reached Riyadh.
The meeting follows a period of diplomatic friction between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates over policy differences in Sudan, Yemen and Somaliland. Sources close to the negotiations said both sides expressed a willingness to set aside those disputes in order to present a unified front against the Houthi threat.
Analysts cited by Middle East Eye noted that the shared security concerns are prompting a rapprochement. “The Houthis are bringing Saudi Arabia and the UAE closer together,” said Anna Jacobs, a non‑resident fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute.
Both governments have signaled the possibility of coordinated military and intelligence measures, though specific operational details were not disclosed. The United Arab Emirates has previously provided logistical and aerial support to the Saudi‑led coalition in Yemen, and Riyadh appears keen to re‑engage the Emirati partnership to safeguard maritime traffic through the Bab al‑Mandab strait.
The Houthi offensive has intensified in recent weeks, with the group claiming responsibility for several drone strikes on Saudi infrastructure and for targeting commercial vessels in the Red Sea. The disruption threatens global oil supplies, as a significant share of the world’s petroleum passes through the Saudi‑controlled shipping lane.
Observers caution that while the renewed Saudi‑UAE dialogue may enhance coalition capabilities, the broader regional dynamics remain volatile. Continued Houthi aggression could compel further diplomatic outreach to other Gulf and Western partners, as Saudi Arabia seeks to protect its energy exports and regional stability.
Reporting attribution: based on reporting by Middle East Eye — original source: https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/saudi-arabia-turns-uae-white-horse-it-gears-battle-yemens-houthis-0.