Behind-the-scenes differences between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, 'allegations of treason' and fears of a new crisis in the region

 

Behind-the-scenes differences between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, 'allegations of treason' and fears of a new crisis in the region

In the Gulf, in recent years, the positions and policies of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have diverged significantly in the overall regional situation, although the two countries have long been close allies on many common issues.

This difference has been particularly evident in some sensitive regional issues, the most prominent of which are the war in Yemen, the division of political and military influence, and economic and strategic competition.

Although this difference has not led to a complete break between the two countries, it certainly indicates a change in the nature of their relations, that is, moving away from a completely harmonious partnership to a relationship based on changing interests and each state’s own calculations.

Since Saudi Arabia and the UAE are the two largest countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), it is natural for them to compete in terms of economic size and population, especially in the context of the emergence of a new generation of leadership in both countries whose goals, aspirations, and visions sometimes conflict with each other.

In recent days, Saudi media have openly accused the UAE of “treason.” This type of aggressive language is the first seen in the Gulf since the 2017 severing of ties with Qatar, raising fears of a new crisis in the region.

The situation comes against the backdrop of recent clashes in Yemen, where Riyadh and Abu Dhabi are supporting different sides. Saudi Arabia has been operating in support of the internationally recognized Yemeni government, while the UAE-backed separatist forces have been opposing it.

Following the clashes, the UAE announced that it was withdrawing its remaining forces from Yemen. The Emirates said the decision was made after a review of its role in Yemen. Saudi Arabia welcomed the decision, but also made it clear that military support should not be provided to any side without the permission and consultation of the coalition.

This disagreement is not limited to military matters but also indicates a competition for influence in the southern and eastern regions of Yemen, especially in resource-rich provinces such as Hadramawt and Mahra. For this reason, the Saudi coalition has also warned of direct military action against the Emirati-backed separatists.

There have been differences, but no severance.”

The past several weeks have seen a growing rift between the two countries, fueled by constant critical attacks on the UAE on Saudi media and social media platforms.

The attacks have ranged from human rights violations to serious accusations of “treason” and “provocation.”

In response, the UAE has repeatedly stressed that it stands by its strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia and the Gulf alliance. The Emirates says that differences of opinion or assessment on certain issues do not indicate any fundamental differences or political tensions.

The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified in a statement issued on December 31 that it continues to maintain economic, security and political contacts and cooperation with Riyadh, and that any military or diplomatic action in the region is carried out within the framework of the joint alliance.

According to the statement, this cooperation reflects the determination to maintain the stability of the Gulf and protect common interests.

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The race for regional influence

According to a report by the American Institute for Arab Research and Policy Studies in Washington, cracks are beginning to appear in the Saudi and Emirati alliance due to these differences... as both countries are trying to increase their influence in key areas, which are connected by sea lanes and international routes, according to their respective strategic priorities.

Experts speaking to BBC Arabic say that the sea lanes and ports in Yemen, Sudan and the Red Sea are a key axis of regional competition between Saudi Arabia and the Emirates, but at the same time they are also a strategic location for the common interests of both.

According to experts, ‘Although the Emirates has invested heavily in supporting the Southern Transitional Council in Yemen and has established a strong military presence, it is still active in the region through its military role in Eritrea and support for support forces in Sudan.’

He added that any future Emirati intervention would depend on assessing the risks of conflict over sea lanes and influence in territorial waters.

Experts also say that Saudi Arabia and the UAE’s interests in the Red Sea are “interconnected and mutually supportive,” and although there are some economic areas such as ports and investment, “the UAE does not want conflict in the region but stability, which includes shipping safety, measures against piracy and smuggling, and maritime stability.”

The experts clarified that “Abu Dhabi does not want a sea that is exclusively its domain, but rather a sea that serves everyone.”

The competition between the two countries is also visible in cases such as Yemen, the African Sands (Horn of Africa) and Sudan, where the nature of each side’s local alliances changes due to differences in priorities and, therefore, sometimes weakens the common front.

Sudan is another sensitive issue, here Saudi Arabia and the United States have presented a new ceasefire plan to the Sudanese army. The plan does not include the UAE, although the Emirates has previously participated in international mediation efforts.

The UAE has long been accused of supporting pro-government forces against the Sudanese army, a charge Abu Dhabi denies.

On May 6, 2025, Sudan’s Defense and Security Council announced that Sudan had severed diplomatic relations with the UAE, citing its support for pro-government forces in the ongoing war there.

Sudanese author and analyst Makkawi Malik described the recent Saudi-Sudanese meetings as the “end of the era of playing hide-and-seek” on the political scene and said that the meetings were “an announcement of moving Sudan’s affairs from chaos to orderly decisions.”

He added in a tweet that the post-Riyadh phase “is the end of the era of running Sudan through agents and the beginning of a state-led transition that re-establishes Sudan as an active regional player and stabilizes the balance in the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa in line with the Saudi vision.”

Economic and strategic policy differences

Under normal circumstances, the Gulf states are keen to portray themselves as peaceful and stable and are reorienting their economies, which are largely dependent on oil and gas, towards business and tourism.

The differences between Saudi Arabia and the UAE are not limited to political or military issues but have taken the form of a clear economic and strategic competition, where different perspectives on development models and regional competition have emerged.

Saudi Arabia is trying to strengthen its economy as a global economic center by attracting investment and diversifying its economy away from oil under Vision 2030, while the Emirates has for decades established itself as a global logistics and trade hub, with its ports, free trade zones and the Dubai World Financial Center playing a key role.

This competition is also expanding to attract multinational companies and host global events in technology, financial services and tourism, transforming the relationship between the two countries into a balanced partnership as well as a competition.

This difference is also evident in energy, oil and regional investment policies, as Abu Dhabi and Riyadh occasionally disagree on oil production and price flexibility in OPEC+. In addition, the two countries also differ in their overseas investment priorities: the Emirates focuses on Africa, Yemen and the Horn of Africa, while Saudi Arabia focuses on infrastructure and industrial projects in the region.

Saudi activist Faisal Al-Shehri told X that the competition between Saudi Arabia and the Emirates is not limited to politics but is “a dispute over economic and strategic influence that is directly linked to events on the ground.”

He said that ‘the Emirates presented the most successful model in the Middle East in attracting investment, building a global logistics network and gaining control over the links between the East and the West, including its ports, airports and free trade zones.’

While Saudi Arabia has ‘started to move away from its traditional economic role based on energy to become a player that is trying to re-establish its position in the global supply chain, attract investment and gain control over trade routes.’

Despite all these differences and differences, the question is: Will the Saudi-Emirati alliance be able to control the economic and political competition between them? Or is the region on the verge of a new era of regional tension?

The future will tell whether the era of Gulf harmony is truly over, or whether these differences can be managed within the framework of partnership.